Volume 2 Chapter 8 – The Red Beastman

"You...!" Felicia’s words left the imperial officer’s face alternating between red and purple. He wanted to lash out, but seeing the four in front of him ready to draw their weapons at any moment, he swallowed his rage.

This petty thug clearly had enough self-awareness to recognize that the Empire wouldn’t risk conflict with the Elf Forest backing Coleman Academy—especially not in an era where unity among the Lightborn was paramount in resisting outside threats. Whoever sparked internal discord first would be the one blamed. And given the current balance of power, the weakened Empire couldn’t afford to make enemies.

The officer, realizing he’d kicked an iron wall, gave a forced snort and walked off, putting on a haughty facade of "not bothering with children."

"Imperial soldiers... getting worse by the day," Felicia said coldly as she watched them leave.

"Since the Demon Race invaded, the Empire’s troops have only declined. Now all they recruit are thug-tier degenerates—it’s laughable."

Dylin recalled that Felicia was a princess of the Whiteglass Kingdom, which used to be part of the Empire until it split off for certain reasons.

With that unpleasant encounter behind them, the four resumed their journey into Coleman Forest.

Though the Demon Race didn’t usually appear in Coleman Forest, weaker magical creatures often wandered in. The group unshouldered their weapons and held them at the ready.

Felicia led at the front, dragging her Crown Greatsword behind her. Due to her agitated bloodline, her eyes had taken on a fierce glint, scanning for anything that might serve as a convenient outlet for her aggression.

Any monster that dared show itself now was like setting up a bed beside a cesspit—no luck at all.

Sure enough, the first unlucky soul appeared: a grey rabbit with oversized buckteeth bounded out from the bushes. Its eyes were red, its body two or three times larger than a normal rabbit, with long fangs capable of tearing arteries.

Not particularly dangerous—but still a monster.

Felicia's lips curled into a bloodthirsty grin. She licked her lips and leapt. Before the rabbit could react, she smashed it down.

Smashed in the most literal sense. With the flat of her blade, she reduced it to rabbit paste—clear cracks of bones and flesh mingling in a single, flattened splatter.

It only made the mistake of showing its face—and got clobbered by a giant sword for it. Unlucky didn’t begin to cover it.

Seeing the exhilarated gleam in Felicia’s eyes, Wenfu ducked behind Astrid, hugging the tall, snow-white thighs of the silver-haired elf and trembling.

Even Dylin winced. Adhering to his "waste not" principle, he went over to check if the rabbit could still be cooked—nope. Its insides were mush, bones and meat fused in a bloody mess. Any bite would just be a mouthful of shards and gore.

Shame.

They encountered several more monsters along the way. None had a chance to flee—or even show aggression—before Felicia turned them into bloody puddles.

Blood dripped from her blade with every step, staining the forest floor. Wenfu's ears twitched in unease, and when Felicia literally dismembered a mutated cat monster, her tail puffed up like a bottle brush.

Astrid gently placed a hand over Wenfu’s eyes. Good kids shouldn’t watch things like this.

The heavy stench of blood was enough to attract other monsters. But strangely, none dared come close after a while.

Apparently, even monsters had a healthy sense of self-preservation.

By noon, the group reached the border between Coleman Forest and Ruglian. The moment they stepped out of the woods and into Ruglian’s wildlands, Dylin felt the sunlight grow dim.

"So this... is Ruglian?" Wenfu looked around. Besides being darker, it didn’t seem too different from Kaleburn.

"It opens into a wide plain. Anyone got a map?"

"If we had one, we wouldn’t need to scout at all," Dylin sighed, activating Divine Appraisal.

Apart from some non-human footprints, there was nothing noteworthy.

"What do you see, Dylin?" Felicia asked, noticing the pale glow in his eyes.

"Some footprints—probably left last night. Nothing recent. Doesn’t look like anyone’s around. Goblins likely wouldn’t nest in such open spaces anyway."

Goblins preferred hiding their lairs in thickets or caves—not exposed grasslands.

Felicia and Astrid both looked surprised.

To detect footprints like that, Dylin’s Divine Appraisal had to be fairly high level.

Until now, Felicia had thought Dylin was little more than a tag-along. But that impression subtly began to shift.

And who could blame her? Ever since their team was formed, Dylin rarely contributed in direct combat—Felicia and Astrid usually finished fights before he even used his skill.

As they advanced, Dylin kept Divine Appraisal active. After taking a Mind Elixir, his mental capacity and control were noticeably stronger, a result of recent training.

In unknown terrain like this, a Divine Child’s appraisal functioned like a radar—indispensable.

He had also recently learned the [Wide-Area Perception] technique.

Soon, he moved to the front of the team, flintlock in hand.

The others glanced at him curiously.

Dylin’s mental energy now acted as extended "eyes," forming a half-spherical sensory field. Everything it touched was scanned and identified.

Suddenly, Dylin stopped.

"Northwest—detected a lifeform." He crouched behind a rock.

The others followed suit, holding their breath.

"...It’s coming this way," he said.

A few moments passed. Then Astrid’s ears twitched—her elf hearing picked up heavy footsteps.

Felicia and Wenfu heard it next, huddling tighter behind the rock.

A massive red silhouette rose over the horizon. It had a lone ponytail sticking up like some tacky hairstyle, bulging muscles with visible veins, twin tusks jutting from its cheeks, and a huge wooden-handled battleaxe slung over its shoulder.

Wenfu clapped a hand over her mouth. For the little catgirl, this was her first time seeing something so... towering.

Even Astrid’s composed expression wavered slightly.

"Red Beastman. Larger than green ones. Solitary. Incredible strength. Not all have Divine Authority, and they don’t use magic or alchemy," Dylin briefed.

"More aggressive than green beastmen. Will attack almost anything they see."

This was Radiant Sun and Moon’s first direct encounter with a demon race member. Dylin reminded himself that real-life monsters could vary from their guidebook descriptions.

There was no running from this fight. In an open field, the aggressive beastman would chase them down.

Before Dylin could finalize a plan—"Mr. Dylin! Felicia’s charging in!" Wenfu cried.

"What?!"

Dylin looked up. Felicia had already leapt from cover, locking eyes with the beastman.

Damn... forgot to account for her current state.

Felicia would attack anything that moved. Even a passing stray dog might get two slaps.

The moment she saw those bulging muscles, her eyes lit up with excitement.

The red beastman paused—then narrowed its pupil-less eyes at the charging human female, smirking in disdain.

He never turned down a challenge, even from weaklings.

Greatsword met greataxe. The impact kicked up clouds of dust, and gusts whipped across Felicia’s face, lifting her hair and shaking her chest with each clash.

The beastman was surprised—this tiny human girl could actually hold her own against him?

She had some strength. Not much. But enough to pique his interest.

He began to push her down, slowly overpowering her. Felicia’s armored boots sank into the dirt.

BANG! Dylin didn’t bother with honor—he shot the beastman square in the face.

Powder burned his cheeks, and the recoil snapped his head back. Felicia seized the opening and heaved, flipping him over.

Her greatsword, infused with Divine Power, glowed with crystalline energy as it slammed into the beastman’s abdomen. Wenfu immediately boosted her strike with an attack enhancement spell.

Astrid followed with a blazing arc of silver flame, and Dylin kept firing to cover them, regardless of accuracy.

A cloud of smoke rose.

But just when they thought it was over, the beastman charged out—straight at Felicia.

He’s still standing?!

His eyes blazed with fury. Every stomp shook the earth.

Too slow to dodge, Felicia slammed her sword into the ground and braced herself.

Dylin fired again. Astrid sent another silver blaze. Wenfu kept buffing.

The beastman shrugged off bullets like they were nothing, swatting away Astrid’s flame arc with a swing of his arm.

BAM BAM BAM! Felicia was sent flying, but rolled upright and stood without injury.

Despite the impact, she’d held her ground until the hit landed, minimizing the damage.

Ordinarily, a direct hit like that would rearrange someone’s organs. But she was still standing.

The beastman roared, more excited than ever.

Seriously? First enemy in Ruglian and it’s a freaking brick wall?! Dylin cursed inwardly.

Felicia’s blood-covered sword probably tipped off the beastman. Stealth was out—this fight was unavoidable.

Green or regular beastmen were manageable. But this guy was a tank.

No turning back now.

"We’re going all in. Wenfu, you okay?"

"Ah? Y-yes!"

"You sure?" Dylin eyed her trembling legs and sighed.

Felicia and the beastman kept trading blows—no clear victor in sight.

Dylin glanced at Astrid. She nodded, told Wenfu to stay back, and joined the fight.

BOOM! Felicia was knocked flying again.

As the beastman lunged, Astrid drew her Silvermoon Bow and fired.

A streaking light arrow spun midair before slamming into the back of the beastman’s head.

He stumbled, losing balance.

Dylin kept up suppressing fire, aiming for the face.

Felicia rose, drove her sword into the ground, and summoned a wall of crystalline shards that burst into the beastman like a shrapnel storm.

BOOM BOOM! He staggered—then crashed to the ground.

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