When That Happens, Face Forward.

Run. Run. Toward the way they’d come, Kikori ran.

Two hobgoblins had appeared—both riding those running lizards called Lizard Runners.

If two had shown up, who could say a third wouldn’t?

It would. Better to assume it would.

Run. Run, run—until Kikori finally burst out of the forest.

He made it out… and choked out, “What…?”

Hero Gate was closed.

Several adventurers lay collapsed… and lizard riders were there too.

Lizard Runners that had lost their masters wandered around, and there were hobgoblins trading shots with the guards up on the wall.

And then—

Some of the lizard riders who’d been held back glanced at Kikori and Aria, and grinned.

They were looking at them as nothing but prey.

They seemed to confer about something, then slowly turned toward Kikori and Aria.

“N-no…”

“Kikori.”

Aria, who had been on his back, slid down, wobbling as she landed.

“Aria-san! You’re still—!”

“No, I’m fine. I can’t use Mjolnir anymore, but I can still fight.”

“But—”

“No ‘but,’ Kikori.”

Aria steadied her ragged breathing and—still dripping sweat—raised her axe.

“We have to fight. When that happens, face forward. Strike before hardship strikes you. If your legs can move forward. If even one finger can move. And always keep this in mind: even if you’re going to die anyway, the happier ending is to die while challenging it.”

“Berserker…”

“Yes. That is the berserker’s logic. Simple, isn’t it?”

Kill before you’re killed.

That was all. A simple principle.

And if that was what a berserker was—

“Yes! I’m… a berserker!”

“Good! Let’s do this, Kikori!”

Kikori and Aria drew in a deep breath together.

It was the first technique Aria had taught him.

The primal intimidation that said: I will kill you.

A battle roar less human than beast.

“Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!”

It rang out. It thundered through the air.

A roar of pure killing intent that shook the listener’s guts, rattled their brain, and dragged up primal fear.

War Cry.

Without using a speck of mana—two roars filled with nothing but killing intent echoed across the field.

For a heartbeat, the battlefield fell into silence—

And Kikori and Aria sprinted like bullets.

Aria’s axe sliced through a Lizard Runner’s leg.

The hobgoblin was thrown from its mount—and the Magic Axe Kikori reached a split second later hammered it like splitting firewood.

A lizard rider snapped to attention, swinging its halberd and charging—while the Lizard Runner, driven only by control, lunged forward. Kikori’s thrown axe slammed into it.

“Ggyea—!”

“Gyagii—!?”

As the hobgoblin predictably tumbled from the saddle, Aria pounced and took its head.

Yes—right now, this battlefield was being completely swallowed by two berserkers.