In any situation, unexpected variables are bound to arise.

No matter how perfect the plan, if the execution fails, it’s likely to end disastrously.

If one fails to account for every possibility, they may end up paying the price.

*Clank — Thud!*

“So, you understand now, Elena?”

“These things are just part of life...!!”

“Yes…! I understand! So please, focus on where you’re running, Master…!!”

A blazing carriage, a specter wielding a scythe swung toward Elena and Keyal.

Keyal bit his lip, frustration clear on his face.

An unforeseen obstacle had presented itself.

---

On the rugged path leading to the Dragon’s Lair, there exists an ominous area marked with a skull symbol.

A haunted spot, a gathering place for soulless spirits.

This is an ambush zone where spirits congregate to possess bodies and claim them as their own.

They have no consciousness or will of their own, following commands without hesitation.

Their sole purpose is to seize bodies.

To consume souls.

Instinctively, they repeat this cycle.

And then…

*Whoosh*

“Master…! Be careful…!”

Among these, without a doubt—

*Shing!*

A massive blade swept past, narrowly missing his head.

In an instant, it cut through the air and tore down trees, leaving the forest overturned, birds flying in panic.

“Such brute force…!”

With a single strike, the dense forest became an empty wasteland.

Undoubtedly, the leader of this place is that thing.

*Title of the Haunted Spot’s Leader: Reaper Swordsman*

It commands spirits with barely any self-awareness, preying on people and absorbing the lifeforce they possess.

This was a lapse in judgment.

After such a long time away from the game, I had overlooked the fact that special areas like lairs have mandatory spawn monsters.

It should’ve been the first thing I thought of when I entered this eerie passage.

Spirits are spiritual beings. They can interfere with visible entities but can’t be touched by the unseen.

Is Elena weaker than the Reaper Swordsman?

No.

However—

She has a disadvantage.

Her spirit magic can empower her but doesn’t work well against spirits lacking a physical form.

Typical dark energy can counter spirits, but half-demon magic doesn’t have enough potency for that.

Using a skill…?

Did I forget the conditions for berserk mode?

The boss monster has at least eight lives. Losing control during the fight, or worse, going berserk, would lead to a devastating defeat.

“Damn, nothing is going right…!”

Keyal rubbed his temples, struggling to find a strategy.

He needed to stay focused.

There’s an old saying that even if you enter a tiger’s den, you can survive if you keep your wits.

In this situation, only I can make it out alive.

No Golden Dragon to rely on with its ability to utter commands.

No vampire with blood magic by my side.

It’s up to me and Elena to get through this.

“This is why most people carry ghost repellent spray or artifacts to avoid spirits,” Keyal grumbled.

He looked down at his pouch, thick and heavy.

It was stuffed with silver coins, and he eyed it with frustration.

“But… I don’t have any money…”

Artifacts are worth their weight in gold.

And I mean literal gold—only pure gold can buy them.

“Ah… I’m sorry, Master…”

Elena shrank, her voice trembling. She knew the truth.

Even as the Elf Queen, she lacked the means to obtain such an artifact.

Elves live secluded in the forest, where it’s near impossible to acquire resources or goods beyond what the forest itself provides.

Even as a queen, this rule held true.

No one among her people willingly obeyed her after she seized her father’s crown and took the throne.

Even if some did, how could she expect elves who have lived solely within the forest to venture out and find a specific artifact?

And even if they tried, there was no guarantee they’d get exactly what the Master wanted.

Keyal had sensed this from the start.

Caught in this chaotic situation, his thoughts were scattered.

But he had no room to hesitate.

Keyal stopped in his tracks.

He bent his knees and twisted his body, gathering strength in his lower half.

Dodging the reaper’s scythe that had swung to snatch him, he sprang into the sky with blinding speed.

His body rose high, reaching toward the dark clouds.

“Master…!!”

Ascending well above Elena, Keyal broke through the clouds and positioned himself in the air.

---

Elena’s desperate cries for him went unheard.

A faintly shimmering dot in the mist below him—a faint blue glow—was unmistakably Elena.

Staring blankly as she slowly descended, her eyes fixed on the Reaper Swordsman before her.

Keyal brought his palms together as if in prayer.

He began to form a shape out of the dark energy in his hands.

Rotating his arms level with his face, he concentrated the dark energy, solidifying it with even greater intensity, further condensing its form.

Once wasn’t enough. As the energy thickened and spread, he kept molding it.

The sphere spun, hovering in the air.

It began rotating quickly, no longer a simple orb—

But now a pointed, drill-like shape, twisted and ready to pierce through anything in its path.

It was a weapon crafted from layers of dark energy.

One strike might not kill, but it would cause significant damage.

All we need is an escape; once we’re out of this haunted zone, the spirits won’t follow us.

An old saying echoed in his mind.

“If it’s possible, it can be done.”

Yes, that’s it. I don’t have to kill it in one blow; immobilizing it should be enough.

“At least leave a scratch. The rest…”

It’s all up to Elena.

The moment he realized this, Keyal stopped his hands.

His strength to condense the energy faded, and his mental focus waned.

He narrowed his eyes, letting everything go.

As his body tipped backward, Keyal looked up at the sky, half-closed his eyes, and released his grip on everything.

His sight turned from sky to earth as he released the dark energy drill with an echoing boom.

It broke the sound barrier, faster than a bullet.

At an impossible speed, the energy drilled through the reaper’s skull.

“Mast… er…!”

The air trembled as a massive ripple spread.

Dark energy scorched the area, burning through the reaper’s neck and creating an almost magical spectacle.

Elena was thrown to a distant clearing, and the debris-covered Keyal and the Reaper Swordsman were left in a cloud of dust.

Of course, as a spirit-manipulating entity, the reaper would quickly gather energy to recover.

But this was enough.

“…It’s enough.”

His vision faded.

Eyelids drooping, darkness began pulling him under.

His body plummeted, crashing down to the ground.

He lacked the strength to keep his balance.

And his mind had already long since faltered.

Keyal lost consciousness.

“……”

---

[!]

======

Sudden Quest

You have defeated the ‘Reaper Swordsman,’ the Commander of Spirits.

{Sudden Quest Completed: Reward granted.}

[Skill rank improved.]

[Abilities increased.]

[Special skills added.]

======

Story Fragment

A fallen lord who once drove this land into terror, he met his end at the hands of a righteous half-demon.

======

Status Screen  
Name: Keyal Klein  
Race: Half-Demon  
Age: 24  
Title: Commander  
Adventurer Rank: Class 1  

======

Skills  
Regression: Rank C+ > A-  
Arrogant Bane: Rank F- > C-  
Command: Rank S- [Maintained]  
System Correction: Rank A+ [Maintained]  
Demon Army: A+ [Maintained]  
Demon Trait: B- > A-  
Dark Energy: C+ > B-  

Skill ranks have increased.

Demonic Eye F- NEW!!  
Chains of Restraint F- NEW!!

New skills have been added.

======

Stats  

Strength: 20 > 21  
Endurance: 17 > 19  
Agility: 19 > 20  
Regeneration: 20 +2 [Maintained]  
Magic: 9 > 10  
Malice: 20 +10 [Maintained]  

Your stats have increased dramatically.

[!]

=====

Party Status  

[‘The Elf Queen’ clutches your unconscious body and bursts into tears.]