BRAND NEW WORLD-Chapter 58: The New Calamity That Walks

[A short while earlier, after Luna summoned the Thunder Lion and Fenrir]

After receiving their orders, the two immediately charged forward. The Thunder Lion and Fenrir attacked the High Orcs positioned behind the Orc General.

Over the next several minutes, whether by clawing or biting their enemies, the two of them slaughtered the High Orcs one by one—including the Orc archer who had previously been hiding in the forest.

[Back to Luna]

As I walked toward the Orc General who had been sent flying earlier, the shadow beneath my feet suddenly grew larger.

Is something above me? 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

I immediately turned around and looked up. There, I saw a massive figure swinging a huge weapon over its head.

"!"

The figure was already close. Just as I was about to activate my defensive magic, a shadow suddenly stepped in front of me and—

CLANG!

The figure before me deflected the attack from the one that had just descended from the sky and was pushed back several meters. When I focused on the attacker, I saw an Orc clad in full armor with Aztec-like patterns, wielding a massive sword.

An Orc Hero?!

My shock didn’t last long, as my attention shifted to the figure standing before me.

He was a black-skinned Draconian wearing dark crimson full armor that covered his entire body. But the most striking feature was that he had four arms. Each of those arms held a weapon—two large axes and two greatswords. Seeing this, an image flashed through my mind.

I was standing atop a hill somewhere. In front of me, I gazed at an entrance beneath a mountain in the distance. To my right stood a blond male elf—handsome, clad in golden armor, carrying a shield and sword. He was @#$%^&*, my partner in crime. To my left stood a white-skinned Draconian wearing white armor and metal gauntlets. He was Bara, the leader of the Guild of the Realm of the Gods.

"Everyone! Thank you all for coming to help me. And thank you as well, Luna, @#$%^&*, and the members of Fortune Cookies," shouted the white Draconian.

"Of course. As fellow Limit Breakers, we have to help each other," one man replied.

"Yeah! We’ll definitely help you, too, Guild Master!" shouted a member of the Realm of the Gods.

In front of me stood a group of people from different backgrounds—the Realm of the Gods, Fortune Cookies, and those who had broken their limits.

We had all gathered here to help Bara fulfill a request from the Draconian tribe. Once everyone was ready, we proceeded into the mountains.

We carefully and cautiously entered the cave together. Cold air blew from within, piercing our skin. The sound of dripping water echoed as it fell onto the stone floor. The cave was enormous—its ceiling easily reaching twenty meters.

After several minutes, we arrived at a gigantic door.

"This must be the boss room..." someone muttered.

"Are you ready, Bara?" I asked.

"Yes! Let’s do this!" Bara answered firmly.

Bara pushed the massive door open with his hands. The room beyond wasn’t much different from the previous chamber, except for one thing—light poured in from an opening in the ceiling, illuminating a throne-like seat in the distance. Seated upon it was a black-skinned Draconian staring at us, his red eyes glowing.

As his gaze locked onto us, my consciousness snapped back.

"Ugh..."

That just now... another new memory? And that blond elf—why couldn’t I hear his name? Why did it glitch whenever it was mentioned?

I wondered why I possessed memories like that. But I couldn’t dwell on it because of the black figure standing before me.

Right... he was Tiamat.

My heart immediately began pounding once I remembered who he was. My chest felt tight, and goosebumps rose across my skin.

Why is he here? Don’t tell me I have to fight him too—along with the Orc General and the Orc Hero?!

As I was lost in thought, Tiamat suddenly turned toward me.

My body trembled slightly. My knees gave out, and I collapsed onto the ground.

"Milady, are you alright?" Tiamat asked.

His question struck me like lightning out of a clear sky. When I looked up, his red eyes were fixed on me—but this time, there was no hostility or killing intent—onlywarmth.

Something’s wrong here...

As I stood frozen in thought, Tiamat continued staring at me.

"Ah—I-I’m fine. I just suddenly lost my strength," I replied weakly.

"Thank goodness you’re alright, Milady," Tiamat said.

While Luna was speaking with Tiamat, the Orc General—who had been lying on the ground—began to rise again. His clothes were tattered, his armor dented at the chest, and beside him stood the Orc Hero. Seeing Luna and Tiamat still talking, the two exchanged glances, and the Orc Hero subtly nodded. They readied their weapons and shot toward Luna and Tiamat.

When I fully regained my senses, I noticed black shadows at the edge of my vision—two of them, rushing in from both sides.

"WATCH OUT!" I shouted.

CLANG! CLANG!

Metal rang as Tiamat’s great axe collided with the Orc General’s axe from the left, while from the right, Tiamat’s greatsword blocked the Orc Hero’s massive blade. The surprise attack was effortlessly repelled. Both Orcs clenched their teeth and growled, trying to push forward, but Tiamat didn’t budge an inch.

With four arms at his disposal, one hand swung a greatsword at the Orc General while another brought down an axe toward the Orc Hero. Both Orcs leapt backward to evade.

Tiamat channeled mana into both swords, black aura enveloping the blades. He then swung them at the Orc General and the Orc Hero, who had just stabilized themselves.

A five-meter-tall wave of black energy shot toward them.

SWOOSH!

The lower edge of the energy slash scraped across the ground, carving a path as it traveled. Unable to dodge in time, both Orcs blocked with their weapons. The Orc Hero managed to deflect it, but his shield cracked in the process. The Orc General, already wounded, lacked the strength to redirect or evade it.

His axe split apart, and the energy slash struck his body. A tortured scream rang out as he collapsed to the ground, blood pouring from his body and soaking his armor.

Tiamat strode toward the critically wounded Orc General. With strides spanning fifteen meters each, he closed the distance in just a few steps. Upon reaching him, Tiamat looked down briefly—then swung his axe, severing the Orc General’s head and ending his life.

After killing the Orc General, Tiamat turned to face the Orc Hero.

Seeing his comrade fall, the Orc Hero did not flee. Instead, his fighting spirit burned even brighter.

"GRAAHHH!!"

He roared to the sky before charging at Tiamat, raising his shield. The shield glowed white, his speed increasing—

BOOM!

A thunderous impact echoed as shockwaves spread outward, smoke engulfing the area. When it cleared, two figures emerged—Tiamat holding the Orc Hero’s shield in place. The Orc Hero struggled but couldn’t break free from Tiamat’s grip. He swung his sword, aiming for Tiamat’s neck, but it was blocked.

With the Orc Hero restrained, Tiamat pulled his head back slightly and opened his mouth. —black energy gathered inside before being unleashed forward.

ZWOOSH!

A Calamity Breath?!

A three-meter-tall beam of dark purple energy shot forward for hundreds of meters before gradually dissipating. When the view cleared, the Orc Hero’s head and neck had turned to dust. Burn marks covered his chest, smoke rising from his body. The ground scorched by the breath smoldered as well.

Tiamat released his grip, and the Orc Hero’s body collapsed.

After both Orcs were defeated, Tiamat began walking toward me. When he was about twenty meters away, a bolt of lightning suddenly struck him from the sky.

BOOM!

Thankfully, Tiamat managed to leap backward at the last moment. He looked up at the sky. Floating there was a silver-haired elf woman who looked like Luna—but with green eyes.

"Lun, are you alright?"

[One hour earlier]

Rima flew at high speed, cutting through the wind. In the distance, she spotted gray city walls. Not long after, she landed near the city gate.

Seeing something approaching rapidly, the guards raised their weapons in alarm. Even after Rima landed, they remained tense—until one guard recognized her.

"Hold it! Lower your weapons!" the guard shouted.

Though hesitant, the others obeyed. The guard approached her.

"Miss Rima, how have you been? Why the rush? Is something wrong?" he asked.

"Yes. There’s something urgent I need to discuss with the Guild Master," Rima replied.

"I understand," the guard nodded. "Let her through! No inspection!"

Despite their confusion, the guards complied, allowing Rima into the city.

Once inside, Rima rushed toward the local Adventurers’ Guild. Upon arrival, she approached the receptionist.

"Excuse me, is Guild Master Amara available?" Rima asked.

"Miss Rima?!" the receptionist gasped. "I’m sorry, but Guild Master Amara is currently meeting Viscount Inda."

"I see. Thank you," Rima said, immediately leaving.

Why is Miss Rima in such a hurry? I hope nothing bad has happened... the receptionist thought.

Rima leapt from rooftop to rooftop until she reached the city’s largest mansion. Two gate guards tensed upon seeing her.

"Stop! This is Viscount Inda’s residence!" one guard shouted.

She looks familiar... but who is she? thought the other.

"I need to see Lady Amara and Lord Inda," Rima said.

"Unauthorized personnel aren’t allowed inside," the guard replied.

Without a word, Rima produced her Adventurers’ Guild card and showed it to them. Their faces drained of color, as if they’d seen a dragon.

"I-I apologize for my rudeness!" the guard cried, bowing deeply.

The other guard followed suit.

Rima nodded lightly and waved her hand. "No need. I know the way."

Inside the estate, she passed manicured gardens and entered the red mansion. More guards inside paled upon seeing her card, but Rima didn’t stop to explain and went straight in.

Inside a room, Viscount Inda—a well-dressed middle-aged man in a gray suit—was speaking with a dark-skinned elf woman in an elegant navy-blue dress: Guild Master Amara.

Knock knock.

"Come in," Viscount Inda said.

A servant entered but was interrupted as Rima stepped in.

"Good afternoon," Rima greeted. "Apologies for barging in, but I have something important to discuss with both of you."

Viscount Inda and Amara exchanged looks, sensing the gravity of the situation. After hearing Rima out, the three soon exited the mansion. Once finished, Rima immediately flew north.

Flying at full speed, Rima cut through the wind.

I know Luna will be fine... but why does my heart feel so heavy? she thought.

After an hour, Rima spotted Luna sitting weakly on the ground. Nearby, a black-skinned Draconian was approaching her with weapons in hand. Rima accelerated and cast her magic.

BAM!

A bolt of lightning struck down from the sky—but the Draconian leapt back just in time. Rima landed beside Luna.

"Lun, are you alright?"