Arata looks at Alexander's thick iron helmet. Usually, he woke up the crew with breakfast, but this was a much more irritating way to greet the day. Wasn't this place supposed to be safe? How could they possibly atta-

  Arata is interrupted as behind Alexander is an Alraune, its jaw unhinged, yet unlike the usual human soldier, it has pointy ears, and its skin almost looks charred. “Duck Alex!” Arata shouts, taking out his sword, driving it into the Alraune, piercing the creature yet not quite deep enough to kill it. Alexander doesn’t retreat; instead, his hands move as mana dances across the sword, sanding the blade down slightly more and mending the damage that using the Cauterizer did to the edge.

  With a twist of the blade, the creature's spine is pierced through and dislodged. Splinters of wood fly out as the Alraune is decapitated.

  Rushing out to meet the soldiers, Arata’s eyes pan across a scene of carnage. Soldiers are suddenly trying to kill each other when Arata realizes one-on-one combat is not the alraune’s specialty.

  The alraune themselves are animalistic… they couldn't carry this out. Out of the corner of his eye, he spots eyes peeking out of a hole in the wooden beam of the lumber mill’s frame.

  “Alexander… we were fools, the Erlking’s army does not abide by the same rules that fairies do.” Arata’s hands touch Alexander's shoulder.

  The fairies were no longer avatars of nature, it tied back to the Alraune, perversions of concept. Dryads were not guardians of the forest but now avengers, seeing through trees that were chopped down.

  The dryads controlled the alraune, it was a hive mind. Arata and Chive were lured to this position so the Alraune could drive the men to insanity.

  Arata rushes over to the house with the eyes, shouting, “Men start a fire if you're still sane! Avoid killing our allies! Burn everything wood!” Yet his voice is drowned out by the sound of chaos.

  Yet among the chaos, a voice echoes out, mirroring Arata’s own are several shouts, “Men start a fire if you're still sane! Avoid killing our allies! Burn everything wood!” The corpses temporarily move their jaws at the soldiers before returning to silence.

  When Arata turns his head, the lumber mill behind him goes up in flames. Morgan rushes around the building towards Arata with a torch in her hand alongside Albert. The once fractured fighting force all band together to spread more flames.

  Morgan shouts out, “Arata! I told them your message but there's already been a lot of casualties… at least we should get the rest of our squad together. Where's Gavian?”

  Arata prays, having to summon Ravenna so soon after she was dismissed. Her face says it all, immediately floating in the air, she exclaims, “In the water Arata! He's being attacked by a fairy knight!”

  Arata quickly turns his attention to the river. There stands a mass of animated metal fused to skin, through the crevices of the armor, mud empties itself like an endless waterfall.

  The creature’s fingers are like knives, crimson pouring from Gavian’s right shoulder blade. Fortunately, his spine was not hit. Unfortunately, his sword is stuck in his non-dominant hand due to said injury.

  Arata shouts, “Get out of the water! I’m trying something dangerous!” as Arata begins to brace his sword.

  Despite Arata’s warning, Gavian can’t move. Below the water between the rocks of the waterbed, vines have moved their way up his leg, penetrating his calf. A swamp fairy I’m guessing… we need to check Gavian’s injury for infection then. Firstly, how can I get him to move? I can’t get into the water since I don’t wanna risk being wet while running electricity into the water.

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  From behind Arata, Alexander jumps out of nowhere, grabbing Gavian to carry him out of the way, yet his back was turned to the fairy. That was a mistake, as it lifts its helmet, bearing rows of fangs, another muddy root pushes its way out like a spear to intercept the back of Alexander’s head.

  This time, Arata knows not to move; his role was already determined, it was to wait for his time. Albert rushes out to cover Alexander’s back in turn, parrying the root before kicking the Fairy knight back down into the water.

  Now! Take the mana out of the mud. The water begins to crackle with energy once the knights evacuate from the water. In a stroke of luck, the kick knocked the fairy knight’s head below the water, plate armor making it difficult to stand back up, with the creature in newfound immense pain.

  Arata stepped out, walking over the creature’s paralyzed form in the water. It was a lucky match-up for him yet he needed the information in its script if he hoped to have any chance at killing more than one fairy knight. Prying his sword through the water, he targets the brain for a swift mercy kill.

  Now regrouped with the rest of the knights, the battlefield suddenly went quiet, eyes throughout the nearby forest flickered out in retreat. Furthermore, a subtle fog coaxes the soldiers back. They’re retreating? Why would they go and do that?

  Arata returns with Alexander to see the state of the other soldiers, Albert stays behind to perform first aid on Gavian. Turning to meet the soldiers, Arata’s eyes begin to water as he slides his hands into his pockets, staring up to avoid facing the scene.

  Why’d they stay if they’ve won the battle? Staying would only cause more casualties for them… Besides Arata and the rest of the knights, only fifty soldiers remained; 75% of the company was reduced to gore used as accents to the bright orange flames.

  The All Swallowing Swamp

  Written by: ?????

  Act XX

  X ext. The great forest’s swamp

  The swamp fairy knight awakens as a hero to save the masses. ????? gives the knight orders to save the children through the fog in the knight's sinuses.

  ?????

  Elven children have crossed into the great swamp of the eastern forest. Children who run too far from their parents are in danger. For the sake of the kingdom, save them Swamp Knight.

  The valiant knight moves in accordance to their mission, the creaky limbs bend towards the nearest lost lamb.

  Mischievous Child

  Swamp knight! You’re here to play tag. Great lord Erlking sent you here right? I have to hide the others-

  The boy had been found by “it” and now time for bed, roots tangled their way around the boy’s leg. The knight applauds the young boy’s good behavior in heading to sleep quickly.

  ?????

  One down, as expected of your good character, you inspire those naughty children to sleep forever. Keep up the kindness spreading.

  A bashful girl was further out in the water, arms and legs flailing about as she was incapable of swimming.

  Bashful Girl

  Swamp knight! Help me, somebody! The swamp is going to drown me!

  ?????

  Drowning? Preposterous, the swamp is good, swamp knight, why don’t you teach her how gentle the water is? It’s a noble thing to help others overcome their fear.

  Swamp knight springs into action, saving the girl from her own fears, fingers interwoven with hair. Swamp Knight holds the kid’s head under water until she stops panicking.

  Same scene later

  Swamp Knight

  Don’t know… am I helpful?

  ?????

  Ask all the kids, see how they are thanking you?

  All surrounding the courageous soul is applause, tens of kids underneath the water sprout up, some have their orifices full of mud, others have red infected eyes and others with seaweed in their hair.

  Swamp Knight

  I helped friends boss!