Infinite Mage [Remake]-Chapter 163: The Forest of the Fallen (Part 3)

Tess's battle was also nearing its end.

Though her saber lacked the weight to break the Venom Fang Demon's shell, it was optimized for targeting gaps.

Stabbing between the shell segments, Tess reduced its mobility and delivered the final blow by driving her saber into its single eye. Twisting the saber, she forced the Venom Fang Demon to submit at her feet.

As the battle dragged on, Amy cast Fire Wall around them.

Since the beasts were mindless, the best outcome would be for them to flee. But contrary to expectations, one demon charged through the wall of fire.

Harvest, having enlarged its body, grabbed the Venom Fang Demon's torso and snapped its spine.

Arin felt relieved that her psychic abilities worked. Casting Mind Control on four Venom Fang Demons, two of them began to tremble.

The two controlled Venom Fang Demons turned and started attacking their own kind.

With the monsters fighting each other, the group no longer needed to fight.

Rian and Tess, having finished off their targets, sheathed their weapons and returned to Shirone.

As Amy dispelled the Fire Wall, the bloodbath among the Venom Fang Demons became visible. They were stabbing, knocking down, and trampling each other with their horns, legs, and snouts.

With an even number on both sides, Arin's skill in controlling the Venom Fang Demons was crucial. Though unfamiliar with the creatures at first, she quickly grasped their traits and used their long horns to pick them off one by one.

The group watched the tragic scene of kin killing kin with chills running down their spines.

For Kanya and Lena, it was especially shocking. Beings bound by the laws were defying them and killing their own kind. Today was a day of many strange events in the Forest of the Fallen.

Arin, victorious in the battle, let out a deep breath.

Mind Control itself consumed mental energy continuously, and directing a fight also drained her due to the emotional resonance with the controlled creatures. The mental fatigue was considerable.

The Venom Fang Demons under Arin's control turned to look at Shirone. Kanya and Lena hastily stepped back, but the demons merely assumed a submissive posture.

Arin pondered what to do with the remaining Venom Fang Demons.

The high success rate of Mind Control through her psychic abilities was both her strength and weakness. High emotional resonance meant she felt the emotions of her targets more vividly.

For a psychic mage who dealt with all minds in the world, this was a fateful burden.

Arin hesitated again. Even if they were monsters, taking the lives of those who had fought for her was a painful task.

Tess, who prided herself on being soft-hearted, spoke for Arin.

Tess suggested, "Can't we just keep them? Even two would be a huge help."

Arin replied, "No. I can't waste my mental energy on monsters like these. Now that we know psychic abilities work, I need to focus on that. I also have to maintain the mental channels."

Tess asked, "What about releasing them?"

Arin said, "They'll just attack again. Worst case, they'll bring back more."

Tess sighed, "I see. Then we have no choice but to kill them. Can't we make them fight each other to death?"

Arin bit her lip at Tess's words, which belied her claim of being soft-hearted.

This was different from controlling Venom Fang Demons to kill others. With her high emotional resonance and the added emotions of allies who had fought alongside her, the conflict was even greater.

Rian said, "Then I'll kill them. Just hold them still."

Canis shook his head.

Canis said, "No, Arin has to do this. If you want to reach higher levels as a psychic mage, you can't remain weak forever."

Even with her psychic abilities, there were limits. To reach her goals, situations like this couldn't be a problem.

Canis wanted Arin to stay by his side for a long time.

Canis said, "Arin, remember what you promised when you were taken to the Mage Association. Our master is no longer in this world. We have to get stronger. This isn't a place where we can afford to show sympathy."

Arin closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Canis was right. Would she rely on her psychic abilities, or would she master them? It was a difficult task, but one she had to overcome.

Arin made the Venom Fang Demons walk to the forest's edge. Then, she made them stab each other's eyes with their horns.

The two Venom Fang Demons collapsed, face to face.

They were still alive but unable to move, leaving no other way to finish them off.

Arin forced a smile.

Watching her, Harvest recalled the time they had faced each other through a glass tube.

Though still considered fragile for a mage, she had become a completely different person compared to when she feared everything in the world.

Harvest said, "That's Arin's strength and weakness. She easily resonates with others' minds, but that's why she can't become ruthless. Arcane always regretted that."

Canis added, "But she's changing now. Arin will do well."

Shirone, who had been sharing Arin's sorrow, felt relieved hearing Harvest and Canis's conversation. Though she had chosen a difficult path, she had comrades who would stay by her side for life.

Shirone said, "Anyway..."

As Shirone turned, his friends also shifted their gaze to Kanya and Lena.

The two women flinched in surprise. The six pairs of eyes were filled with an emotion that didn't match the situation—waves of empathy.

Shirone said, "They're people."

Rian agreed, "Yeah, they're people. They even have swords and shields."

Tess added, "Ah, swords and shields. I thought I'd go crazy wanting to see those. Talking to giants who uproot trees and swing them around was making me dizzy."

As the incomprehensible words continued, Kanya stepped in front of her sister and shouted.

Kanya demanded, "What are you saying? Who are you people?"

Arin connected to the Spirit Zone and attempted telepathy. As Kanya's thoughts came through, Arin used her psychic abilities to convey them to Shirone's group.

Shirone said as kindly as possible, "Uh, so we're from another place..."

Kanya's sharp glare stopped Shirone in his tracks.

Suddenly understanding the previously incomprehensible words, Kanya's tension rose. Above all, the words didn't match the mouth movements.

Kanya demanded, "What did you do? Is this magic too? Are you from the Nor clan?"

Shirone asked, "Nor clan? What's that?"

Instead of answering, Kanya extended her right arm. A drone flew down from the sky. The beetle-like mechanical device landed on her wrist, separated like stairs, and attached as a gauntlet.

Kanya commanded, "Language decipher."

The back of the gauntlet lit up.

Kanya ordered, "You, say something again."

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Shirone asked, "What should I say?"

That was enough. Kanya bent her arm to check the gauntlet.

No data. Deciphering impossible.

After confirming the drone's information, she drew her Arc. Pulling the handle, a red dot appeared on Shirone's forehead.

Shirone stammered, "W-what are you doing? All of a sudden..."

Having watched from the forest, Shirone knew how powerful the Arc was.

Being treated like this without even knowing why was baffling. This wasn't how people should react upon meeting each other in a place full of monsters.

Kanya shouted, "Lena! They're not divines! We have to fight!"

Lena hesitated, "B-but sis... they saved our lives."

Kanya insisted, "Now I get it. Why the Venom Fang Demons are here. They're the ones who disrupted the forest's laws."

Hearing that, Lena had no choice but to act. Though reluctance was written on her face, she still took up her Signa and Exed, ready to fight.

Kanya threatened, "You'd better be honest if you don't want your head blown off by the Arc. What did you do in this forest? Who are you people?"

Even if they explained, there was no way to make her understand. Frustrated, Shirone could only shout.

Shirone exclaimed, "We're people too!"

Kanya retorted, "How can I believe that? You're not speaking the divine language! And you're not heretics either!"

Shirone argued, "We can communicate, right? Isn't that enough?"

Kanya frowned. Strangely, Shirone's words had a persuasive quality.

Shirone said, "Let's solve this through dialogue. If we can talk, we can find a peaceful solution instead of pointing that strange weapon at us."

Kanya scoffed, "Peace? Talking about peace in the Forest of the Fallen. You're really suspicious."

Shirone asked, "Forest of the Fallen?"

Arin explained, "That must be the name of this forest."

Silence fell after Arin's explanation.

The standoff continued for a while.

Shirone could easily subdue Kanya if he wanted to, but he hated fighting.

They were humans. They could communicate. If she let go of her hostility, he could learn more about this world.

At that moment, Lena looked up at the sky.

The drone patrolling the area projected an image onto her retina of a scene happening 500 meters away. Over twenty Venom Fang Demons were swarming toward them.

Lena warned, "Sis, we're in trouble. Venom Fang Demons."

Kanya finally snapped out of it. With the forest's laws disrupted, staying here any longer was tantamount to suicide.

The strangers, whose identities were unknown, didn't seem to have any intention to fight. It was hard to say for sure, but if they had the skill to defeat the Venom Fang Demon, they could have easily subdued her.

Kanya said, "For now, follow me. Let's get out of here first, and then we'll talk."

Kanya transformed the gauntlet on her arm back into its insect form and sent it flying into the sky. After confirming the location of the Venom Fang Demon, she determined their direction and entered the forest.

Shirone and his group followed her without complaint. Amy mentioned, "We're heading away from the city."