The Heroes and The Fallen Angel

Chapter 1

It felt like something was pushing us, an invisible shape, wriggling like a snake and flying like a dragon. I crashed far away, rolling around until it finally stopped spinning after pounding the trunk of a birch tree. My gaze felt cloudy, the chaotic sound of the battleground aggravated the dizziness I was facing.

"Akiyama, look out!" mugi shouted from a distance, while resisting the magical attack using his shield.

"I know, I know!" from quite a distance away, Akiyama returned Mugi's screams. The master of these retro games somehow chose to run, he continued to run, but behind him the ground felt shaking. The creature was chasing him. "Hey, Mugi, help me! He keeps following me!"

"You don't have to scream like that! I got it!" raau Mugi who was having difficulty surviving the monster's magical attack. "This creature, still hasn't let me free!"

"Yeah!!" Pocket was lying down, his rattan stick was spinning away from him. The magic circle on his feet suddenly disappeared.

"I hold on!" Ruri ran over to the fallen Saku. While throwing a magical knife made of ice, Ruri grabbed the fallen Saku. But it all gets worse.

The supernatural creature made it past Mugi's defenses. In the blink of an eye Ruri and Maehara crashed far away, flying like a rugby ball thrown high into the sky. They were both in the condition that I am now, falling helplessly, both legs limp unable to stand properly.

"Is this a lie?" awed Akiyama finds Maehara and Ruri defeated just like that, even though they are the most powerful in the squad for now. Akiyama's steps came to a halt, in front of him the faceless human had already appeared.

What should it be now? All cornered. Akiyama must have easily been defeated by the Faceless Man; Mugi was busy defending against the onslaught of the Ether Node's resident creatures; Saku, Ruri, Maehara and myself fell helplessly.

"It still has a lot to learn!"

When things got so upset, that was where Master Tudor set foot on the battlefield. He crudely created embers as hot as hellfire. It was so hot that the ground was scorched when his feet stepped. The Faceless Man turned away, he ran jumping, about to claw at that Breaton, but HUSH! In a flash his eyes turned to ashes. The Tudor Master used a fire sword to split the body of the Faceless Man in two, burning the rest of the body to the ground using his embers.

I was stunned to witness as easily as Master Tudor, the fire element master, scorched the enemy in an instant. I knew my level was indeed very far with him but still, how he split that body, was amazing! Especially when he walked casually towards the Ether Node up ahead.

The supernatural being that attacked Akiyama instantly showed his true figure. Electric eel, big as the largest python in our world, but this eel has a mouth like a spider—there is a big claw in its mouth it—. The eel has no eyes and can fly freely in the air. As Master Tudor stood before him with a burning aura as hot as hellfire, the eel stopped swimming in the air.

"Go back to where you came from" said Master Tudor, whose electric eel immediately followed. He flew back in to the Ether Node. The Tudor Master turned around, his eyes sweeping our faces one by one. "You guys okay?" ask Master Tudor to us.

The hot aura had already disappeared from this place. Even so, the burning heat was still felt, not because of Master Tudor's fire, but because of our shame on ourselves. I don't know what to say, I'm sure my other friends feel the same way, we're heroes summoned from another world and we really suck. Unable to defeat such an anchovy-class monster.

"Pardon us masters," said Maehara regretfully. He closed his mouth, bowed respectfully, then got back up and said, "We can't be of any use."

"Don't say that, you guys are useful, but it's probably too early for you to take to the field." The Tudor Master helped the fallen Pocket, reached out and helped him stand up.

"We will try our best to be stronger" said Maehara steady.

"Try it then, and don't let me down."

Such were the last words of Master Tudor before leaving us in the middle of this forest. We exchanged glances, none of us could speak, not even Akiyama who always spoke without thinking it was also now silent, sitting leaning back to the trunk of the birch tree.

"We suck, all of us, 11-3."

"It's not us who suck but this world is too dangerous, Akiyama also understands 'would it be difficult to defeat the faceless monster earlier?"

"I can still fight! If the master hadn't interfered, I could have done it!" akiyama said a little fiery, his face shriveling. On the other hand Ruri chuckled.

"True, do it, I mean die," Ruri said in a slightly insinuating tone.

"Hey you!" Akiyama got up, he approached.

My instinct says he'll hit Ruri. Fortunately there, Maehara who came quickly patted his shoulder. The class leader is indeed good at making Akiyama's hot head melt.

"After that, we better get back to town quickly."

"Of course it has to be fast, we're screwed." Mugi got up, "Look." He showed how his kuirass was dented due to eel attacks, his shield was broken, and also his hair was agitated.

"I will ask Nirnir for help to repair our equipment, but before that we will go to the Queen first to say hello."

"Isn't it better to come to the store to eat?" ask Mugi. For some reason the others agreed with him, their eyes were like pleading with Maehara. If Saku had not been asked, he put his palms together, his face turned sweet, looking completely begging the girl.

"Ah okay, we will eat, as much as possible and remember tomorrow we will practice again."

Everyone cheered happily when they heard Maehara, the head of the class. To think it makes sense too, I am also really hungry now, especially after fighting it out, is not it delicious if you eat well?

We left the Lothreen forest. The suppressing aura of the Ether Node is no longer felt by us. To be honest, I really hate the sense of pressure from the Ether Node, it feels like being in the middle of a fast-flowing river. There is a strong urge that can sometimes make breathing stifled, more severe if fatigue can feel nausea. Not only that, sometimes it feels like there's someone around me but there's nobody there. It's like the Ether around there is alive. I don't know what caused it all, I don't know.

Akiyama straightened out his mead. He greedily snatched the grilled pig, devouring it quickly like a person who had not eaten for days. Ruri who was sitting opposite him stared at Akiyama's words, astonished at Akiyama's behavior.

"I can finally eat delicious again!"

"Basar Akiyama, when we have just 3 days in the forest. You've already directly—"

"Tell yourself," said Mugi, shaking her hand.

This table instantly became full, various food and drinks came to this table. The last servant came to our table, carrying a letter. We exchanged glances for a moment, and then it was Maehara who took the letter. His eyeballs turned, the face of the class leader instantly extinguished.

"Hey, hey what is that?"

"From the center, they say the traitor is in the area near here. They said they'd help us out here, Master Joancen and Naerith with their squad would come." Maehara explained, straightforwardly and briefly to everyone at this table.

"He, what do I think." Disappointed akiyama. The hair went back to eating.

"If Naerith had come with his squad, what would have meant to Kariya and the rest of the class."

"Yes, they're coming, Naerith says 'prepare a lot of money when we come, '" said Maehara, answering what Mugi would ask earlier.

The instantaneous eyes sparkled from Ruri and the others on this table, oh of course except Akiyama who focused on devouring the smoked meat.

The froths filled the cup which was freshly filled with mead by the servant. When the half-tiger man left, Maehara turned to me. His eyes looked seriously at me.

"What do you think Yuuji?" ask Maehara to me.

"I guess?"

"The traitor was written in the letter" said Maehara. He resumed his words after Saku beside him slapped Akiyama. "What do you think we should do?"

"If I think, we better." I stopped, my eyes fixed on the ceiling. "So, I think it's better that we follow Master Tudor's direction, I don't think that person is evil." Akiyama looked at me. "I mean this traitor, there's probably a reason why he's being betrayed."

"It could be, but then why would he betray?" ask Maehara back. His hands were on his chin; Akiyama and Saku got into a small fight.

"Maybe because the goal is different from the main purpose of The Watcher was founded."

"What then will this traitor destroy the world?"

"I don't think that's what happened." I drink while thinking small. "There could be something behind The Watcher, which could arguably destroy the world."

"It's impossible for me, because the goal of The Watcher is to protect the world, keep the ether in balance and keep the world intact" Maehara said, tasting a little meat soup.

"Logical too, but I think there's a little bit of an oddity, is it possible to ask him directly why he's being betrayed?"

"Maybe we can do but just in case, we should not be far from the city, and as much as possible to the forest to practice if there is someone accompanying. Lorath or another senior might be. We know exactly what happened and that traitor can bring Ether to nothing." Maehara again sipped his drink. His eyes immediately turned to Saku who was at the side.

"Chairman, evil Akiyama!" said Saku while tugging at Maehara's arm.

And instantly the table started to get crowded again, more crowded than ever. Akiyama continuously shouted, while Saku and Ruri responded to the person's rampage with disgusting looks. As it almost made all the attention of the people to us, Mugi intervened, she silenced Akiyama's mouth. What a missed sight. That's when I asked a small question.

"Oh yes, chief," I said so that only Maehara could hear. "Why ask my opinion? Not another member of the squad?"

"Because you're the most powerful among us, I'm sure and I'm sure of your views."

Right too, I almost forgot, probably because it's been happening for quite a while. When we are ordered to take the exam to show what elements are inside us, all get their respective magical levels, how fast to control Ether, how powerful can channel Ether, and how powerful can they be, and there's so much more. As a result of the test, I was the one who got the best result. Especially in terms of Ether control. Maybe at this time I am very weak because I still can not use well my advantages.

"I went back to the inn" said Akiyama wryly.

"Don't be moody,"

"I'm not moody! Anyway we should be ready by morning, we'll want to meet the queen and fix our gear. And I'm also going to go buy some new magical gear."

"Yes, yes, then good night Akiyama, rest because tomorrow we will continue training again." Maehara waved; akiyama turned her head, and immediately went out of the shop. "You guys, too, better get some rest," Maehara added to all of us left at this table.

Everyone nodded in understanding. Ruri, Saku, then Mugi got up from sitting down. One by one they left the table. Next Maehara is where she has to pay for the meal this time.

I followed them, and the view of the city of the Tigrants welcomed me outside the tavern. Buildings like the ancient Egyptians, almost all made of sandstone and have architectural models like buildings in the middle of the desert. The only difference is that this place is not in the desert, but is close to a dense forest. The land around here is also fertile, although not many grasses grow around the settlement. Maybe because of the magical spell of the Tigran. If you want to know, Tigran is a human half tiger.

"Is this land so dangerous?" that's the question that hit me right in my mind. "When the world is so beautiful" I murmured in my heart as I looked at the flying islands in the northern sky.

Almost even 2 months I am here, or rather it has been almost 2 months I live in the world of Thyr'das. As I have told you, I am from the earth and somehow 2 months ago I was called here, along with my classmates, Class 11-3. We are all summoned to the world of isekai, as heroes who will save the plains.

That was what Moraine and the other Masters at the headquarters said. We 20 people were called here to save the world. Ironically, isn't it if the summoned hero is much weaker than the keronco monsters that can be easily defeated? I'm ashamed to admit it, but it's a fact.