Chapter 5

For a few days after that, we continued our journey without any problems, but in the end, my plan was too optimistic.

The route from the village along the river to the mountain range included a dangerous area called the "Barbera Forest," which even veteran adventurers approached with caution. Rarely, powerful monsters that were a cut above the rest appeared and wreaked havoc here.

Yes, just like now...

"Kura! (Whoa!)"

"Kyua! (Yahh!)"

Dagger and I dodged the oncoming pitch-black unicorn by splitting to the left and right. As we did, Dagger, a bit late, thrust his dagger into the unicorn's side, but it only grazed the tail of the already passing creature.

"Gwoaa! (You bastard!)"

"Hin!"

Buster swung his greatsword with a yell, but the pitch-black unicorn nimbly dodged, and my short sword, swung in a diagonal slash, was deflected by the horn on its head.

(Damn, I don't feel like we can win...)

Suddenly, the monsters' strength had inflated. I remember hearing during my mercenary days that a unicorn that had become a magical beast would impale its prey with its horn and drink its blood. That's pretty scary...

"Gura, garo kuaroon? (Captain, shouldn't we retreat here?)"

"Worgaar, waooon!! (The opponent is a horse, so we'll climb the trees!!)"

We prepared to climb the trees after dodging the next charge, gathering our strength in our legs, but...

"Kuan, ku, kuoon... (Bro, I, I sprained my ankle...)"

"Guh, waoon (Damn, we have no choice but to fight)"

When we dodged the pitch-black unicorn's charge earlier, I sprained my ankle due to the poor footing. I dragged my dominant foot behind me and moved in a circle to avoid facing the unicorn directly.

"Gura... gura garugwoa (Captain... I'll stop its movement)"

"Wafi? (What?)"

Without waiting for my response, Buster plunged his greatsword into the ground and clapped his hands to draw the pitch-black unicorn's attention.

It has a quick step and a horn that can deflect blades, but its finishing move is a charge. Is he planning to stop it? That's crazy!!

"Gau, garugau gwoaroon!! (It's just a moment, I'll put everything on this moment!!)"

Whether it was due to Buster's provocation or because it thought a weaponless opponent with open hands would be easier to handle, the pitch-black unicorn charged at the giant cobalt with its incredible burst of speed.

"Hiiin!!"

"Wooaa!! (Wooaa!!)"

Buster bent his body and crossed his arms, then at the moment of impact, he thrust upward from below, striking the unicorn's throat!

"Bura!?"

For a moment, the pitch-black unicorn's movement stopped.

And I wouldn't miss this opportunity.

"Guraa! Guaaann!! (Well done! Buster!!)"

I thrust my short sword into the unicorn's side, twisting to widen the wound.

"Hiiiiiiin!?"

It let out a scream and thrashed wildly, trying to shake us off.

"Gua!?"

"Kuun!"

Despite being thrown by the horse's final leap, I managed to control the impact by leaping backward. Still, the heavy impact penetrated my leather armor, and I stumbled.

Somehow, I managed to keep my balance and refocused on the unicorn, which was already at its limit, standing upright with a pool of blood forming at its feet.

(Well, it's over...)

I raised my short sword again, and Buster pulled his greatsword from the ground and shouldered it. Together, we brought down our blades to end the battle.

...

...

...

And then, I found myself in a completely white space.

I thought I had just finished off the pitch-black unicorn... Where did Dagger and Buster go?

Looking around, I saw a massive, spiraling white staircase reaching up to the sky. The moment I saw it, knowledge I shouldn't have known flooded my mind.

"...Waufvolg (The Ultimate Spiral Staircase)"

Yes, this is the lowest level of the Tree of Life, the place where the souls of low-ranking beings like us cobalts gather.

Driven by instinct, I began to climb the spiral staircase.

Despite the absence of any other living beings, I felt many gazes and heard what sounded like cheers and applause as I ascended to a landing.

The starting point was so low that I had only just begun to climb the Ultimate Spiral Staircase, but I felt a significant advancement just before my consciousness was consumed by light.

As the knowledge that had flooded my mind began to flow out, my consciousness returned to reality.

"Waf?"

For a moment, I felt my consciousness flicker, and when I checked the situation, I saw the dead unicorn lying in front of me, its life force and magic power flowing into me, rejuvenating me.

I suddenly noticed something strange.

"Gau, gura, kuaron waaoon!?

(Hey, Buster, your fur color has changed!?)"

The fur on his arms had turned a striking pitch-black up to his forearms, and his arms were noticeably more muscular than the rest of his body.

At first glance, he looked like a higher-ranking cobalt, a Cobalt Fighter, but his tail was unusually long, which was a subtle difference.

"Gura, wafaoon!?

(Captain, you look different too!?)"

"Kwon, kuun...

(Bro, you look beautiful...)"

"Wau? (Huh?)"

When I looked at my own arm, I saw that the usual brown fur had turned a silver color, closer to gray. It seemed to have a luster...

I turned around and saw that my tail had become fluffier.

(What the hell is going on...)

It would be much later that I learned that at that moment, Buster had evolved into a Cobalt Warrior, a subspecies of the Cobalt Fighter, and I had evolved into a High Cobalt, a mutant species.

---

**Common Name: Buster (Male)**

**Race: Cobalt**

**Rank: Cobalt Warrior**

**Skills: Enhanced Strength (Great / Effect lasts for a moment)**

**Title: The Dog Who Puts Everything on the Line in a Moment**

**Weapon: Greatsword**

**Armor: Leather Armor**

**Accessory: Cloak**

**Common Name: Archer (Male: Me)**

**Race: Cobalt**

**Rank: High Cobalt**

**Skills: Basic Magic (Earth, Wind) Battle Cry (Cobalt Clan Encouragement)**

**Title: Captain (or Boss)**

**Weapon: Bow (Main) Short Sword (Secondary)**

**Armor: Leather Armor**

**Accessory: None**

And that concludes the prologue! (*'▽')

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