— Laughter echoed along the Leefaus Highway.

The massive White Whale swam majestically through the sky, emitting shrill sounds from its numerous mouths, each gaping maw wide open. Unlike the roar that shook the earth, the sound spilling forth from its irregularly sized mouths was sharp, like claws raking through the wind.

Subaru felt an indescribable disgust crawl over him, a sensation unlike having his eardrum shattered.

After such a grand surprise attack and with the valiant efforts of Wilhelm and the beastman mercenary group, the damage inflicted on the White Whale was no small matter.

The total firepower would be enough for Subaru to die a hundred times and still have change left over. If compared to magical beasts, it seemed they could even wipe out a group of Urgalm at least ten times over.

They bombarded it relentlessly. Subaru had anticipated that although it wouldn’t bring the battle to a close, the White Whale would surely sustain significant damage and fall to the ground—

“Crap, the mist—!!”

With a shriek resonating from every fiber of his being, the countless mouths of the White Whale simultaneously spat forth the ‘mist’. It spread far across the highway, the descending fog began to permeate the world, gradually painting the view in a pale white haze.

This was the Mist Beast’s true power.

The mist engulfed the highway, obscuring visibility and disrupting coordination among the individuals. Moreover, despite its gigantic form towering over them, the White Whale blended into the white sea created by the fog, seemingly vanishing.

“No way…!?”

“—Subaru-kun, entrust your life to Rem!!”

Before Subaru could react to the shocking turn of events, Rem, leaning forward, shouted. In response, Subaru wrapped his arms tightly around her waist.

The Earth Dragon followed Rem’s quick handling of the reins and began to charge forward, scraping against the ground. Felis, who had been next to him moments ago, also turned sharply, pointing the Earth Dragon’s head into the mist. Now that the White Whale had entered a combat state, retaliation was inevitable. Obviously, injuries were unavoidable. If that were to happen, there would be a stage set for ‘Blue’ as his nickname suggested—

“—Everyone, retreat!!!”

A shout echoed from beyond the mist, attempting to rein in those plunging into the white darkness. The voice was unmistakably Crusch’s. Before Subaru could even lift his face to ask why—

“Wha!?”

In a split-second decision, he changed the trajectory of the Earth Dragon, his body swinging left due to centrifugal force. In front of him, Felis’s Earth Dragon took a right. Subaru and the others split left and right, and right down the middle—

A dense mass of mist rushed through.

The encroaching fog was wide enough to blanket their vision; had their evasive actions been a moment too late, the Earth Dragon along with Subaru would surely have been devoured whole.

What a fuss over just a bit of mist; had he not seen it with his own eyes, he might have laughed it off. But the moment the otherworldly phenomenon entered his gaze, it was impossible to make light of it.

The mist sliced through the ground of the plains like a hot knife through butter, devouring everything in its path and dissolving it, literally vanishing into thin air.

Had they encountered that, they’d have been erased from this world altogether.

“What the hell is this real ‘Mist’…!”

Among the details provided during the briefing of the hunting squad regarding the White Whale’s terrors, one particular aspect was undoubtedly the devastating power of this ‘mist.’

The mist released from the mouth of the White Whale came in two varieties; one purely obscured visibility, expanding its personal attack range, while the other, just now witnessed, obliterated the very ground before them.

The latter was the method of assault utilized by the White Whale, and its true horror lay not only in its unstoppable power and devastation but also where the real threat resided.

“—Take this, SEI!!”

With a shout filled with spirit, a bold voice echoed from beyond the mist, and suddenly, the veil obscuring their sight was swept aside.

Looking beyond the now-clear vision, he saw Crusch standing tall on the back of the Earth Dragon, her arm swung downwards. Likely utilizing some unseen blade, she had sliced through the thick mist to regain visibility.

Sweeping the sweat from her brow, she dropped back onto the running Earth Dragon and surveyed the surroundings. The disbanded hunting team began to regroup around her, and at the forefront, Crusch addressed them.

“—How many have fallen?”

“The number of our squad was twelve—three are missing.”

“…Who has fallen?”

“I don’t know…!”

Responded a senior squad leader to Crusch’s inquiry, shaking his head at the continued question.

It was a baffling exchange. The squad leader, who knew the count of his members, claimed not to know who among them had disappeared.

However—

“We have fourteen, with one lost.”

“Our squad has two missing. Same for us.”

“Six… I’m sorry! They ventured too deep and couldn’t avoid the mist…!”

Similar reports began to come in one after another, with none of the squad leaders able to name their fallen companions.

That anomaly constituted the true terror of the mist controlled by the White Whale. In other words—

“Disappearing mist…!!”

Literally, those who fell victim to the mist vanished completely from existence.

Although the fact may remain, none would recall whose presence had ceased to exist. Crusch had assembled the hunting teams with exactly fifteen members to manage this aspect.

In the event of a squad encountering casualties from the mist, they’d be left unaware of who had perished. The only fact they must know was the absence alone; thus, the squads were structured accordingly.

When Subaru previously encountered the White Whale in the other world, an odd phenomenon had unfolded.

Subaru had witnessed how the merchant Otto, who had accompanied him, lost all recollection of other traders present, including Rem, who had stayed behind to hold them off. Back then, he had thought Otto erased inconvenient memories out of fear, but considering it now in reference to the White Whale’s ‘mist’ made everything fall into place.

Those who disappeared from the world due to the mist encompassed the traders and Rem. By the time they returned to the mansion, even Ram, his twin sister, seemed to have forgotten about Rem.

Yet again—

“I’m the only one who remembers…”

In utter disbelief, Subaru voiced this undeniable reality.

He remembered the vanished merchant, and Rem, who had sacrificed herself to save him. Just as he remembered that loop, Subaru alone retained these memories.

Surrounding Crusch were the various squad leaders, the faces of the fifteen gathering had already shifted twice, their identities seemingly altered.

The original squad leaders who had fallen to the mist had left behind substitute commanders who were grasping onto reality, unaware of this sudden shift in roles. Therefore, none noticed this abrupt change.

In light of this bizarre situation, Subaru was reminded once again that the mist beast possessed strong connections to the ‘Witch.’

With the black magic that tethered him to this world, such bindings were not to be taken lightly.

“Now that we’re submerged in mist, we have no idea where the next strike will come from. Clustered together is a terrible strategy. —Spread out and utilize the Mist Purifying Crystals!”

Surveilling the gathered hunting team, Crusch wrapped up the discussion succinctly. As they all nodded in agreement, Subaru realized that neither Wilhelm nor Ricardo was present.

—Could it be that those two had vanished too?

“Welcome back, Wilhelm.”

However, Subaru’s inner tremor was quelled by a shadow emerging from the mist.

Gradually appearing from the thick fog was Wilhelm, wielding a bloodied sword upon the back of the Earth Dragon. Drenched head-to-toe in blood, he wiped his face with his sleeve as he rejoined them.

“I acted too eagerly. —What’s the damage?”

“Seventeen in total… One full squad has been effectively wiped out. We can no longer honor the fallen’s names correctly.”

Vanishing literally equated to the erasure of existence.

Only a void remained where those lives had once been, revealing the absence of bonds, emotions, and love that once flourished there.

Upon looking back, a herd of Ligers appeared behind Wilhelm, among them Ricardo on a larger Liger and the vice-captain. It seemed that similar to Wilhelm, their group had sustained fewer losses during the struggle.

“What a troublesome mist has appeared. We lack enough Purifying Crystals. …If we misuse the few we have, it’ll be the end.”

“I believe if we manage another round of concentrated fire, it should fall. Considering we’ve lost sight of it, we’ll need an ambush as well. Any objections?”

All members silently expressed their agreement to Crusch’s words.

As she nodded in response, she glanced toward the faces of those supporting Felis.

“Felis. Launch the Mist Purifying Crystals. We have only two uses left. Handle them with care.”

“Preparation is already complete! Just give the command, anytime!”

Felis, pounding his chest, replied, to which Crusch nodded and looked over the faces of everyone present.

“This is the moment of truth!! Our attacks are validated by the grips we have left in your hands, and it has been proven! Undoubtedly, the creature is formidable, it’s unclear in its intent. It’s entirely possible that our deaths may not be remembered by anyone. But!”

Drawing her waist sword, the Karsten family’s treasured sword, Crusch raised it high, her voice soaring.

“For the dead who could not leave their names on a gravestone, and for those weak who shall surely confront the terror of the mist in the future, we shall strike down that beast, no matter the sacrifices—we will take it down—follow me!!”

“—Oooo!!”

Each one raised their weapons into the air and shouted in unison.

A tremendous surge in morale rippled through the mist, igniting their previously dimmed fighting spirit into a blaze.

“Mist Purifying Crystals—launch!!”

At Crusch’s command, Felis and the assembled comrades shot their cannons skywards—immediately after, with a roar, the Crystals soared into the mist.

“The mist is clearing!!”

The burst of light from the shattered crystals rapidly swept away the fog that had cloaked their vision. However, it didn’t mean they cleared every last bit of mist spreading across the plains.

They merely reduced its overall density, alleviating the situation just enough to regain sight. While it wasn’t complete reclamation, the result was already sufficiently impactful.

—The mist released by the White Whale appeared to stem from mutated mana within it.

In other words, it was mana scattered with directionality, manifested to form the ‘mist’. The common name of Purifying Crystals was a misnomer; the accurate designation was Anti-Mana Crystals. When held, they provided a single-use substitute function against magical attacks.

By shattering multiple such crystals at once, effects such as those seen today were produced. If mist overlapped in the air, even their magical abilities would be in danger of diminishing.

“Not nearly enough to eliminate all the mist.”

“There’s been no negative effects on our magic. Rem is also all set.”

As Rem tightened her fist, the horn on her forehead glowed in response.

Feeling the surge of mana enveloping her, Subaru realized Rem was about to channel her magic again and couldn’t help but nod.

“—Alright! I’m not gonna hold back anymore! We’ve been useless up till now. It’s time we take our turn!”

“Yeah! I’m in!”

Below the Earth Dragon, the reins rattled as it galloped in tune with its neigh.

Holding onto Rem’s waist on the back of the Earth Dragon, Subaru scanned the sky above, searching for the White Whale.

The hunting team, in response to Crusch’s command, sprinted while scanning for the giant beast, a tension brewing, leaving them parched from anticipation of when the battle might commence.

The White Whale’s presence still remained obscured. Much like waiting in the depths of the abyss for its emergence, tension was in the air.

“—Mist.”

Suddenly, a dreadful premonition crossed Subaru’s mind.

There was no particular root for his suspicion. The efficacy of the Purifying Crystals, the management of magic post their fading effects, and recollections of his previous encounters with the White Whale played back vividly, and that unease emerged out of the blue.

—Though its disappearing fog operates differently, if this enveloping mist stemmed from the White Whale, then was its ominous nature purely for obscuring vision?

Yet before he could voice that question—

“—!!”

A high roar echoed across the thinned Leefaus highway.

And madness began to spread.

※※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※

The first hint of an anomaly occurred among the dragons running alongside them.

The high-pitched roar differed from the White Whale’s previous calls. It was deep, disturbing the atmosphere, accompanied by an unsettling sensation clawing at his eardrums.

Feeling goosebumps creep up his spine, Subaru choked out a sound while even Rem stiffened beside him, suddenly realizing something was amiss.

“Hey! What’s going on!?”

On the adjacent Earth Dragon, riders were being thrown off left and right.

Upon hearing Subaru’s scream, Rem quickly U-turned their Earth Dragon. As the riderless dragon whirled about in confusion, Subaru sprinted to the fallen men.

“Are you okay!? Falling off isn’t just a simple injury…!”

Hurrying to assess their status, Subaru found their condition to be far from typical injuries.

One man was foaming at the mouth, eyes rolling back as he convulsed. Another let out incoherent cries while scratching at his own arms until blood flowed. One more bit down until his teeth cracked, pounding his head against the ground in agony.

The symptoms were inconsistent, but one thing was clear.

“What is…?”

“It’s targeting the mind… It seems like mana intoxication, but something far worse!”

Leaning her hand against her forehead, Rem answered with a pained expression.

Hearing her mention “mana intoxication,” Subaru muttered it under his breath, then suddenly looked up to scan the area—the mist.

“No way, could this mist be responsible for…!?”

Surrounding their group were several who’d succumbed to the effect—an all-encompassing abnormal magical assault. —Evidence defied all logic.

It’s unlikely just a few of them would be affected; in fact, every group within sight seemed to have halted as well.

“There are resistant ones and those who aren’t… I can’t feel a thing.”

“Rem’s feeling a bit overwhelmed with excessive mana density… Just give me a moment to calm down.”

Rem began to take a deep breath, and Subaru observed for a moment before dismounting the Earth Dragon and rushing to the afflicted knights. He attempted to halt their self-harming behaviors.

“Hey! Stop it! You can’t keep doing this—Uagh!”

“Ahhh! Ahhihihahhh!”

As he reached out to stop them, claws scratched fiercely around his inner arm. Amidst the pain of flesh tearing, he recoiled an instinctive distance. Yet, the man turned his focus back to self-inflicted injuries, blood scattering as he wailed.

“This hurts—I can’t handle this! If it keeps up, they’ll seriously hurt themselves!”

“Subaru-kun! Your wounds!?”

“It stings a little, but it’s nothing serious! More importantly, we have to figure something out, or they’ll end up killing themselves! Can we do something about it?”

When Subaru inquired, Rem shook her head while glancing at the writhing knights with a grave expression.

“I’m afraid treatment from me would only help to a certain extent… Simple external injuries could be manageable, but it’s affecting them internally through the gate. Such potent mana contamination requires someone as skilled as Felix…”

“How much can we resist this mental contamination? Most of us aside from Rem and me are practically undone!”

The squad headed in Subaru’s direction had nearly disbanded, with only the unit commander and two others holding their ground, frantically trying to dissuade their self-injuring comrades. With more than half of around ten contaminated, the situation was dire.

“If Felix is contaminated, then we’re completely screwed. What are we going to do…?”

If they were experiencing this chaos, then the other squads must surely be in a similar predicament. Should main forces like Crusch and Wilhelm along with a critical support like Felix fall, they would be utterly overwhelmed.

“Those who can move should take the injured to the root of the Great Tree! Some level of authoritative strength is unavoidable!”

From the fog ahead arose Crusch’s voice, with responsive sounds following suit. She seemed not to be affected by the contamination, desperately striving to manage the situation.

Considering the order for a collective attack instantly shifted suddenly after, a creeping frustration radiated through her tone, raging at the White Whale’s operations that didn’t outright incapacitate them.

“I’ve heard it’s easier to derail a front than to kill—how dare this monster apply such tactics?”

“Seems Felix is alright. If he can treat the injured, at the very least, with a little luck, we might be able to restore some sanity…”

Subaru comprehended Rem’s hesitation.

The issue was that this would occupy Felix’s hands, which also implies loss of resources battling the casualties. Above all—

“There’s not enough time. Unless Felix can treat all at once, we can’t just remain helplessly waiting for a whale’s attack.”

“Worst case scenario, the White Whale could completely engulf us with mist. I’d rather not think it has that level of intelligence, but… given the circumstances, all optimism fades.”

“It could be acting purely out of instinct, but either way, we can’t underestimate its hunting methods.”

Understanding the risk, Crusch aimed to rally the hunting squad while preparing Felix to tend to the injured.

Clearly, she understood the necessity of innovative tactics if they were to buy time. However, whether any effective solution would emerge remained daunting.

“—Huh.”

Taking a deep breath, he exhaled deeply, emptying his lungs.

By removing the oxygen from his body, his chest naturally constricted more— he came to realize the steady rhythm of his heartbeats.

Surprisingly calm, Subaru couldn’t help but smile at his own composure.

Throughout, he was always tossed into situations where his emotions dictated his heart to race wildly.

Yet why, at present, was he able to remain so calm facing a moment of decision?

“…Even if borrowed, courage is still courage.”

With a loud thump against his chest, Subaru inhaled sharply once more. He paused, shut his eyes, then opened them while blowing air outward. He faced forward, seeing Rem gazing down at him from the Earth Dragon’s back.

She seemed to anticipate his words, waiting for his desire.

“Rem, stay with me in the most dangerous spot.”

“Of course. —Wherever you need.”

Without hesitation, Rem accepted Subaru’s request, even smiling slightly.

With that, Subaru hopped back onto the Earth Dragon and launched towards the knights restraining their rebellious comrades.

“Rem and I will draw the White Whale’s attention. While we do that, you guys take care of Felix’s treatment. Those in a good position, to the rear!”

“You’ll draw its attention!? How on earth will you…?”

“Just like this!”

To the voice of the surprised old soldier, Subaru smiled and opened his throat wide, shouting.

“—YOU ALL WILL DIE!!”

His voice boomed through the mist.

Rem seemed comforted by Subaru’s fierce proclamation, covering her ears. The nearest knights hastily did the same, and the assembled hunting team members within earshot likely followed suit.

Just as Subaru had requested during the pre-battle briefing.

And then—

“—I will DIE!”

The moment he spoke those words, a surge of terror seized Subaru’s heart.

If things unraveled and that black magical hand reached for his comrades or Rem before his eyes—

But then,

—“I’ll give you my heart; just lend me your hand!!”

He widened his eyes, quelling his fears, clutching his thoughts tight—immediately after, it struck.

“I love you.”

Soft words whispered into his ear like an ethereal breath.

Yet within it conveyed a powerful warmth that stirred his heart.

He felt tears swell at his eyes, overwhelmed by emotion, the impulse to wrap her in his arms rising fiercely.

As overwhelming heat engulfed him in the growing affection, his consciousness white-hot flared into a blaze.

“—I’m back.”

In the instant of confrontation, Subaru’s consciousness awakened to reality.

The feelings that had dominated his mind moments before faded; any sentiment he previously clung to escaped him. Yet, the absence of the anticipated sharp pain lingered, in itself a peculiar feeling. Despite this,

“Rem, how do I smell to you? Any scent of the Witch?”

“Yes, it’s quite pungent!”

“That’s right, but isn’t that a bit harsh?”

Receiving Rem’s approval, albeit with mixed feelings, the plan progressed.

Subaru clenched his fists and scanned the area.

“We’re leaving here immediately! We’ll steer clear of the roots; you all work to regroup with Crusch!”

“Understood! May fortune be with you!”

“Same to you!”

As Rem took off, Subaru patted her shoulder.

At present, Subaru’s body would be laced with the lingering scent of the Witch—this contradicting aroma should be palpable. The concern was how effective it would be against the White Whale.

“Recalling the Urgalm incident, it was potent enough to cover an entire forest—what would it be this time… Honestly, it’s unknown.”

Previously, when he had encountered the White Whale, Subaru had been persistently targeted by it aboard Otto’s dragon carriage. Given that he hadn’t muttered anything regarding the Witch at that time, being a prime target now should be understandable, yet—

Before Subaru could complete the thought—

“—!?”

As they advanced, the Earth Dragon suddenly sensed something, swiftly turning its head upwards with sharp alarm.

Spurred by its instincts, in an instant, it abruptly rotated—Subaru, almost flying off from the centrifugal force, yelped, wrapping his arms around Rem as he cried,

“What’s…?!”

“It’s the White Whale!!”

Right alongside the startled Rem’s shout, from within the mist, a gigantic mouth broke through.

At the last moment, it narrowly avoided the path of Subaru and others, skimming past mere inches as the jaw of the White Whale closed on the ground, swallowing everything in its wake.

Glancing the hardened skin as it blitzed past, Subaru and the others ducked away from its jaws, which began to consume the grass beneath them.

Following suit, the White Whale aimed for their backs, jaws parting as it opened wide to consume.

And then the roar followed.

“Whoa!?”

With oppressive pressure edging closer, they were met with astounding mass.

The overwhelming sense of being crushed pushed down on Subaru while the Earth Dragon kicked furiously at the ground as it fled. However, the White Whale’s pace was unabated.

With the mass towered high above, it swam through the air like a mountain. In an instant, the distance was closing in like swift winds.

Drawing nearer, the atmospheres shifting, its enormous head came within reach, its breath flooding over them.

“Rem!!”

“Uruhumah!!”

In response to Rem’s invocation, three ice spears surged from the earth, shooting upward toward the White Whale.

They struck precisely, aiming at the underbelly of the pursuing beast, attempting to pierce through its softer belly to ground its flight.

But—

“Not gonna stop—!”

Bundles of ice the size of massive spears shattered and exploded, producing a sharp sound as bits flew everywhere. The mist flooded in immediately, hindering any blockade as blood spurted from the whale’s fresh wound. Yet the creature showed no signs of slowing.

Despite sustaining injuries, shedding blood, what was the limit of its resilience? Once more, Subaru quaked contemplating the sheer level of difficulty in bringing down the White Whale.

Yet—

“It’s not just a fight for a duel, against the Urgalm this time!”

“—!!”

He defiantly provoked, extending his middle finger boldly towards the distance separating him from the White Whale. Even without grasping the intent behind the gesture, the beast clearly emitted rage in kind.

The enormous figure—

“Raahhh—!!”

From one side, Wilhelm leaped seamlessly onto its back and slashed deeply.

He landed right on the center of the White Whale’s back, blade driving through flesh, causing torrents of blood to spray forth, transforming into a crimson mist.

Then on its bloody back were two Ligers rushing towards the creature, real twins in appearance leaping forth—

“Hey sis, together!”

“That’s the plan, Hetero!!”

Bounding from either side, the Ligers flared their momentum, landing on the fresh wounds made by Wilhelm. As they locked eyes, they both raised their voices together—

“Wa—!”

“Ha—!!”

Immediately following, the White Whale shuddered violently, blood gushing forth again from all the inflicted wounds, shaking its colossal form as it plummeted.

Desperately writhing, cries of pain echoed from its body, barely managing to avoid a fall—upon tearing from its back, the twins landed gracefully.

“Finishing move, complete!”

“Captain, we count on you!!”

“Alright, leave it to me! If those little ones put in the effort, I’ve got to step up too!”

As the twins sprung down, a larger Liger switched places with them, scrambling up the hindquarters of the whale.

As it climbed, the rocky skin yielded to the giant sword it wielded, creating visible gashes in progress, cutting through like the wind was Ricardo’s Liger, darting towards the approaching mist.

The swirling fog breathed down upon Ricardo and Wilhelm riding toward the back of the White Whale, seemingly the thick mist released from the countless mouths opening.

Though not fast enough to evade, the sheer number of jaws unleashed a barrage. Straining to avoid the mist, Ricardo maneuvered his Liger expertly. Wilhelm evaded deftly through the swirling fog as both blade and sword danced around atop the beast’s back.

Vertical slashes destroyed the twisted mouths roaring in laughter, as Ricardo’s massive sword ransacked inside, obliterating its function. The Liger’s claws, even slightly, restrained its advances, while once again powerful bombardments by the mercenaries intensified against this formidable creature.

The White Whale began to falter against the hunting team’s relentless assault. Its mass writhed as if preparing another round of mist.

“Rem!!”

Even before Subaru could call out, the Earth Dragon pivoted under Rem’s command, leaving Subaru scenting as bait for the beast. Distracted, the White Whale turned its head toward them.

“—!!”

“Don’t be distracted! I have been captivated by you for fourteen years!”

The thrust pierced through the White Whale’s brow, embedding itself in its hard skull; Wilhelm’s movement hit a halt for an instant. Immediately, he abandoned that sword, powerfully kicking the hilt and pushing deeper, thrusting his fifth blade into his right hand and raining down slashes horizontally across the Whale’s head.

This time, he cut through the numerous maws lined in its path, joining forces with Ricardo who dashed gracefully alongside, even as dog-like beastmen laughed joyfully.

“Things have turned enjoyable! It’s sturdier than I expected, but it’ll be nothing to us!”

“No… This lack of resistance is a bit concerning.”

Ricardo cheered impulsively, to which Wilhelm responded quietly, continuously scoring his attacks with light footwork.

Raking his Great Knife across the protruding spines on the White Whale, Ricardo grinned, squinting one eye.

“What’s the matter? You feel anxious?”

“It’s hard to believe that a mere magical beast would hold my wife up… Considering the advantage gained and no disbandment initially, it still raises alarms.”

While Wilhelm pondered mid-attack, the White Whale suddenly stirred.

It shook violently enough to dislodge those who had clung to its back. In a swift motion, the White Whale lifted itself upward, soaring into the sky.

With a rapidly tilting surface, Ricardo barked orders at the Liger and skillfully ran down the rocky surface, escaping before reaching dangerous heights. Meanwhile, Wilhelm,

“Before I drop, I’ll take another!”

Twisted in mid-air, the agile old swordsman leaped alongside the still-rising White Whale.

Diving down, he skillfully maneuvered his body weight and stabbed fiercely; leaping upward from the descending pearly form of the White Whale as he zooomed downward.

At the peak of the leap, the upper fin got cleaved from the surge of blades, leaving many mouths hovering atop.

“—!!”

As he heard the bellowing cry of the White Whale, Wilhelm had launched himself from the altitude.

While one might ordinarily expect death from such a high rock face dropping freely, nearing the ground, Wilhelm retrieved something from within his belongings and hurled it down—creating a small explosion of mana, generating sublet winds whipping around forcibly, catching the momentum of the Earth Dragon beside Wilhelm.

“Wilhelm!!”

“—”

Concerned, Subaru called out to check on him. Yet, Wilhelm paid him no mind, his steely gaze fixated upon the slowly drifting White Whale overhead.

Subaru’s eyes followed instinctively, catching sight of the giant beast swimming high among the clouds.

Blood dripped from the place where the fin had been severed, raining down furiously and staining the crimson grass below. There remained no decline in Wilhelm’s fighting spirit, in stark contrast.

Subaru expected the whale to flee, having been aware of how impossible it would be, but the method behind the beast’s ascent remained uncertain.

With the beastmen mercenaries gathering around, concerns surfaced regarding the injured who were now huddled below the Great Tree’s roots—

“It’s coming.”

Looking upwards, Wilhelm murmured softly as he squinted, tightening his grip on both blades.

Instantly, their collective attention was heightened to their maximum alarm, holding its breath as they awaited the next move.

And then inevitably regretted.

“—The mist is falling!!”

Shouting as loud as he could, Rem turned the Earth Dragon sharply, retreating from the front lines.

Other Earth Dragons and Ligers fell into stride as they fled, struggling to steal a glance back while ensuring their own safety.

—A colossal wave of “Disappearing Mist” billowed down, soaring to shroud them all.

The dark cloud, like thick smoke, bore down with the intention of swallowing them whole; the only means of escaping its encroachment was to evade its range.

No outlines of rocks or trees could shield against its destruction, leaving futile resistance in its wake.

Running desperately, praying they could just break free, they sprinted onward.

The looming sensation of inevitable doom above forbade them even the courage to glance upward, pressing down the soundless finale from directly overhead.

Tightening his grip on the Earth Dragon, Subaru crouched low and ran with all his might—

“Did we make it!?”

As light broke through, revealing the dimming obscurity overhead, Subaru glanced back.

Shadows enveloped beneath the earth, unable to escape the mist’s grasp.

As they struggled, fear painted their features as they faded into the fog.

The dragons along with them dissolved into the mist, leaving no traces behind—only those who remember could remain, owning the name yet to be wiped from existence.

“Ugh… ah.”

A quiet moan escaped Subaru’s lips, staring into the distance where he’d lost sight of the scattered members engulfed by the mist.

Not even half of their force remained. They had been significantly thinned since the prior assault.

While the hunting team’s roster suffered, even the mercenaries had not escaped unscathed.

At least the main power had to be intact, Subaru thought while scanning around, searching for Wilhelm—

“Wil…”

Latching onto the back of the Earth Dragon, miraculously, he spotted Wilhelm, barely dodging the mist’s reach.

He opened his mouth to call out to him—only to notice.

—From the dense fog approached a visage—a colossal beast’s mouth, wide open, charging straight towards Wilhelm.

“Run—!!”

“Nuh—!?”

Subaru’s scream and Wilhelm’s realization of the incoming threat coincided without time to spare.

It was too late for any reaction.

The White Whale snuck in silently, jaws poised, ready to engulf Wilhelm and his Earth Dragon whole.

Ground shattered, a five-meter square of earth was hollowed out, entirely disappeared into the depths of its maw.

“Ah…”

Before that jarring display, both Subaru and Rem froze in shock, unable to voice their astonishment.

Knowing full well of the determination residing within the old man, the loss weighed incredibly heavy. Above all, with the main combatant now gone, circumstances plummeted deeper into chaos.

“Not good!!”

Then came a distant but familiar voice resounding nearby.

Before Subaru could even process the deduction, their Earth Dragon was ruthlessly struck sideways, blown away by another Liger.

“Whoa!?”

With a cry of distress, the Earth Dragon toppled, crashing to the ground while pain seized their bodies. The assailant’s voice belonged to Ricardo, but before Subaru could extract an explanation—

“—!!”

In an explosion of crimson blooms, Subaru beheld a scene unfold.

“Eh?”

Shredded and bloodied fragments of the destroyed Liger sprawled across the plains. The bulky beastman riding atop was left drenched, yet faded away without a whisper.

The White Whale shook, its body veiled in the remaining blood, swirling taunts as it swam through the air.

Sheltered? What became of Ricardo? All manner of inquiries roiled in his mind, but an undeniable truth pounded against Subaru’s consciousness.

Before him, the White Whale, having swiped under with its tail, was brazenly moving forward while—

“No way…”

Turning back, he watched the horrific sight of the White Whale swallowing the ground along with Wilhelm.

The monstrous entity began to chew, consuming his very existence.

Before him and behind him—looking upwards, shadows loomed overhead, blotted against the blue skies.

——Three White Whales loomed overhead, their multiple yawns shaking the world, echoing with maddening laughter, invoking despair.

Slowly but surely, the grasp of despair coiled tightly around Subaru’s heart once more.