The village slept peacefully until a violent explosion shook it to its core.

  “What was that?” Rurhy said, sitting up at once, fully alert.

  “I don’t know. Stay here. I’ll check it out,” Velt replied as he got up and stepped outside.

  The moment he crossed the threshold, the first thing he saw was the village’s entrance gate—completely destroyed.

  “What the hell happened…?” he muttered.

  Then he sensed something behind him.

  With a swift movement, he leapt to the side just as a figure slammed violently into the spot where he had been standing.

  “That was close,” Velt said, watching the cloud of dust slowly rise.

  When it finally settled, he saw it clearly.

  It was one of the guards who had knocked him out at the guild and thrown him into a cell.

  “So it was you,” Velt said.

  “You know, I’ve been wanting to run into you again. I still haven’t forgotten the punch you gave me at the guild,” he added, touching his stomach.

  “I won’t say it hurt—that’d be impossible… but I did feel it. And I’m pretty annoyed with you and your friend.”

  The man didn’t respond.

  “Silent, huh? Fine. Then let’s begin.”

  Velt attacked first, but the moment his punch landed on the man’s face, he realized this wouldn’t be a quick fight.

  He stepped back before the man could counter.

  “You’re tough… I think one of my fingers broke when I hit you,” he said, looking at his hand.

  The man still didn’t say a word.

  “This is crap. I’m trying to start a conversation and you just keep quiet,” Velt complained.

  Something wasn’t right.

  “Zero,” he said quietly.

  “I’ve already analyzed him,” Zero replied.

  “And?”

  “No hostility detected in the subject.”

  “No hostility? Then why did he attack me?”

  “Sir Velt, no vital signs are detected in the subject. Not even basic indicators of life.”

  “Wait… what?” Velt said, just as the man lunged at him again. He barely dodged.

  “Are you telling me he’s a zombie?”

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  “That is the most likely conclusion.”

  “I see. Then let’s get rid of him quickly.”

  Velt assumed his Orc King form and charged into battle.

  His blows slammed into the man’s body, yet the creature showed no reaction.

  Even when Velt grabbed him and smashed him repeatedly into the ground, the man stood back up.

  “This is going to take a while,” Velt muttered in annoyance.

  “Velt!” Rurhy shouted, appearing with her bow in hand.

  “No, Rurhy. I don’t think your arrows will help much. My punches barely do anything,” Velt replied as he returned to his human form.

  Suddenly, something appeared behind the man.

  “Take this!” Dash yelled, throwing his sword.

  The man caught it with both hands.

  “Dash, get over here now!” Velt ordered.

  Dash kicked the man away and ran toward him.

  “That bastard’s insanely tough,” Dash said, rubbing his foot.

  “I noticed,” Velt replied.

  “He destroyed the gate,” Rurhy added as she approached.

  “Yeah. According to Zero, he might be a zombie or something similar. No life signs detected,” Velt explained.

  “A zombie…?” Rurhy repeated.

  “Is everyone okay?” Rosa asked as she arrived with Luke and Jack.

  “What took you so long?” Dash said.

  “I was getting dressed,” Rosa replied.

  “I secured my father,” Jack added.

  “And you?” Dash asked, looking at Luke.

  “Well, uh…” Luke muttered.

  “I found him hiding under the bed,” Jack said bluntly.

  “Seriously?” Dash said, staring at him.

  “We’ve got a bigger problem right now. Save that for later,” Velt cut in.

  “Velt, your hands!” Rosa exclaimed.

  Velt’s hands were turning purple and black.

  “Probably from hitting him so many times,” he said.

  “Let me heal you,” Rosa asked, using healing magic.

  “Thanks. Even if I don’t feel pain, I appreciate it.”

  “D-don’t thank me… we’re a team, right?” she replied, embarrassed.

  “So what do we do with this guy?” Jack asked.

  “I need time to think,” Velt said.

  “Time?” Dash repeated.

  “We’ll buy you some,” Jack added.

  The two of them rushed into battle.

  Dash attacked head-on while Jack threw daggers from the trees. Luke joined shortly after.

  “I’ll fight too, or Dash will get mad at me,” he said.

  “I’ll go as well. You’ll need healing,” Rosa added.

  “Me too. Think calmly,” Rurhy said, kissing Velt on the cheek.

  “And don’t try to do everything alone.”

  “Alright… Zero, let’s figure out what to do with this thing,” Velt murmured as he watched the fight.

  “A life signal has been detected within the subject,” Zero reported.

  “Seriously?”

  “Yes. However, it is not human. It is much smaller.”

  Velt focused more closely and noticed something on the back of the man’s neck.

  “Zero, do you see it?”

  “Affirmative.”

  “We need to immobilize him.”

  Then an idea struck him.

  “Zero, force the Orc King’s evolution.”

  “Understood. Evolving Orc King DNA to Orc Lord. Temporary.”

  Velt’s body transformed, growing larger and more powerful.

  His skin darkened, and his tusks lengthened.

  Without hesitation, he moved in and immobilized the man with a single blow.

  With his other hand, he tore something out from the back of the man’s neck.

  The body collapsed instantly.

  “I think that’s it,” Velt said as he returned to his human form.

  “What was that? That was a massive orc,” Dash commented.

  “I forced the evolution. That’s all,” Velt replied, staring at the creature in his hand.

  “What is this?” he asked.

  “T-that…” Rosa said. “That’s one of my father’s parasitic worms.”

  “Eivan uses parasitic worms?” Jack asked.

  “Yes… he was studying ways to destroy insect colonies. This one is larger than normal, but it still uses corpses as hosts.”

  “Someone’s been experimenting with things they shouldn’t,” Jack said.

  “I agree. If he can do this, we need to strike as soon as possible,” Velt said.

  “You’re right,” Jack nodded.

  “We attack at dawn. Rest while you can,” Velt ordered.

  Everyone nodded, but just as they were about to leave, Rosa spoke up.

  “V-Velt… do you think we could talk in private?” she asked shyly.

  “Of course,” he replied.

  Alone with him, Rosa played nervously with her green hair.

  “Velt… do you think I… m-might…?” she tried to say, but embarrassment stopped her.

  Finally, she leaned forward and spoke in a firm—though trembling—voice.

  “I like you. Please… I want to go out with you.”

  Velt, completely stunned, could only reply:

  “What…?”