Ryu finally arrived at the area marked on the map. As he looked ahead, the flickering light of torches filled his vision. He let out a sigh of relief—he wasn't alone. Maybe, just maybe, he stood a chance against that monster after all.
As he stepped closer, he noticed several soldiers clad in silver armor, each armed with long spears. Unfortunately, Ryu had never been good at hiding his presence.
The soldiers quickly took notice of him and approached.
"Identify yourself, child," one of them demanded.
Ryu's hand instinctively moved to the hilt of his sword. "My name is Ryu. I need to speak to your leader. And I am not a child."
The soldiers gave him a once-over, clearly assessing his strength.
"Why do you want to speak to our leader?" another asked.
"It's something of grave importance," Ryu replied. "And I will only trust your leader with it."
The soldiers exchanged looks and stepped back, whispering among themselves. After a few tense minutes, one stepped forward.
"Alright, you may speak with our leader. But you'll need to hand over all your weapons."
Ryu glanced down at his swords, his brows furrowed. He hadn't expected to part with them so soon. "Can I keep one? They're for self-defense."
The soldier shook his head. "You're the one asking for an audience. It's our duty to make sure you're not a threat."
Ryu sighed. He couldn't blame them for being cautious. Anyone in their position would be suspicious of a stranger. Reluctantly, he handed over his swords—and his dagger.
"Fine," he muttered. "But I expect them back when this is over."
The knights nodded and secured his weapons. "Alright. Follow me."
Ryu fell in step beside the soldier. As they walked deeper into the camp, he noticed how well-established it was despite its worn appearance. The soldiers they passed gave him sharp, calculating looks—veterans, no doubt. Each one looked capable of taking him down with ease.
Eventually, they reached a large tent made of rich blue cloth—far more luxurious than the others around it. This had to be the command tent.
The soldier stepped forward and announced, "Commander, we have a visitor."
A deep voice echoed from within the tent.
"You may enter."
Ryu's heart pounded in his chest, his hands trembling slightly as he stepped inside. The air was thick with tension and the scent of oil and steel. Seated before him was a towering man with defined muscles, blond hair, and a large scar running over one eye. He wore black armor—heavier and more imposing than anything Ryu had seen on the other soldiers. This man radiated the presence of a seasoned warrior—someone who had seen countless battles and lived to tell every tale.
He was casually sharpening a blade, the rhythmic scrape of metal grating against stone filling the silence. Without looking up, he spoke again.
"Hello, boy. I heard you have something important to tell me."
Ryu flinched. This man didn't just look powerful—he felt powerful. The kind of aura only someone ranked at UNIQUE or higher could have. Still, Ryu could tell—this commander, as fearsome as he was, still wasn't as terrifying as that monster.
But maybe… with all these knights, they stood a chance.
"You shouldn't keep me waiting, boy," the voice cut in again, sharper this time.
Ryu stiffened and stammered, "U-uh, C-Commander, I—I have important n-news."
The man sighed, clearly not a fan of hesitation. "Okay. Continue."
Ryu took a deep breath and explained everything—the attack on the caravan, the monstrous beast, and how he'd ended up stumbling across their camp.
As he spoke, the commander slowly stood up and approached. He was at least seven feet tall, towering over Ryu, who—even at 5'11—felt dwarfed in comparison. The man stopped right in front of him, eyes narrowed.
"Look, boy. Do you understand how ridiculous you sound?"
Ryu lifted his head, meeting the commander's gaze. "I know what I saw."
The man chuckled, though there was no humor in it. "What's your name?"
"Ryu. My name is Ryu."
"I am Arnold Felix, Commander of the Silver Sentinels." He paused. "Your story has too many holes. For all I know, you're a bandit trying to lure us into an ambush."
"I'm not a bandit!" Ryu insisted.
Arnold crossed his arms. "Then what were you doing in that forest?"
Ryu hesitated. He searched for an excuse—anything that made sense—but nothing came. He couldn't exactly say I'm from another world, now could he…
The commander's eyes narrowed.
"Call one of the knights," he ordered, his voice like iron. "Use the boy as a punching bag. Let him out tomorrow."
Before Ryu could react, a knight entered, grabbed him by the arm, and began to drag him out of the tent.
"Wait! Commander, I'm telling the truth!" Ryu shouted, struggling against the grip.
But Commander Arnold simply turned his head and returned to sharpening his sword, unmoved.
Ryu was dragged to a cold, dim cave on the outskirts of the camp. A group of bulky men lounged inside, their muscles taut and faces weathered with experience.
The knight threw Ryu to the ground like discarded gear.
"Commander's orders. Use this kid as a punching bag. Knock him out."
The men looked at each other, then stepped forward.
"Sorry, kid," one of them muttered. "Orders are orders."
Ryu scrambled to his feet, fists raised. He could maybe take two, three at most—but there were five of them.
When they charged, Ryu fought back, but he was overwhelmed in seconds. Blows landed hard and fast, and despite his spirit, he was completely helpless.
Back at the commander's tent, laughter echoed through the air. Arnold was seated with a few knights, mugs in hand, trading war stories over drinks.
"Man," Arnold chuckled, "you wouldn't believe what happened today."
The knights leaned in, intrigued.
"Tell us, Commander."
Arnold grinned. "Some kid wandered into camp, cooked up some story about a monster attacking a caravan. Thought he could trick us into following him out there."
Laughter erupted around the table.
But then, one of the older knights—his hair graying, eyes sharp from years of battle—stopped laughing.
"What did this 'monster' look like?" he asked, voice tight.
Arnold waved a hand casually, listing off the features Ryu had mentioned: unnaturally long limbs, bone-white skin, glowing eyes, a howl that chills the air.
But instead of laughing, the older knight went pale. His mug slipped from his hands and shattered on the floor.
He stood suddenly. "Take me to the boy. Now."
Arnold blinked. "You can't be serious. You believe him?"
"I hope he's lying," the knight said grimly. "Because if he's not… we're all in danger."
The room fell silent.
Arnold stared at the old soldier. "What are you talking about?"
The knight's voice was barely above a whisper.
"Those features… they match exactly with Kolasis."
Arnold froze. "Kolasis... The Hunter?"
The knight nodded. "A beast not of this world. A predator that hunts for sport. If that boy really saw it… we may already be too late."