The Ability to Shift Anything is Convenient, Even in Another World!

At that moment, a shiver ran down Reika’s spine. Unlike before, she could feel his gaze fixed on her back.

Whipping around, her eyes widened as she caught sight of a fist hurtling toward her at incredible speed.

With no time to think, instinct took over. Desperate to avoid the strike, she had no choice but to unleash an offensive ability to push him back.

<Gale Cleave!>

A compressed gust of wind erupted from the tip of Reika’s spear. The attack was meant to graze him—nothing more—but before it could land, Soru vanished once again.

At that moment, something clicked in Reika’s mind.

I see… He’s teleporting now instead of just moving at high speeds!

To break his rhythm, she unleashed multiple Gale Cleaves, slicing through the air in rapid succession. But no matter how many she used, Soru remained unfazed, dodging effortlessly and continuing his relentless assault.

"Hah! Looks like my training wasn't enough!"

I admit it. I can't compete with that annoying ability of his!

The crowd watched, utterly captivated, their eyes never leaving the two combatants. To them, this wasn’t just a spar—it was a clash between two powerful individuals proving their strength.

Just then, Soru spotted a flaw in her movements. He decided to end it.

I can see it…

In a flash, he teleported behind her, arms outstretched, aiming to restrain her hands.

Reika sensed his presence and prepared to launch another attack—but she hesitated.

If I use Gale Cleave at this range, I’ll get caught in the blast too!

Left with no other option, she tried to push him away with her spear. But to her shock, Soru grabbed the shaft with both hands.

"Ghk!"

She tugged with all her strength, but he refused to let go.

"Why won’t you…!"

As she struggled, Veylir, observing from the sidelines, suddenly noticed something alarming—Reika’s aura was shifting due to a sudden surge of her emotion.

Her eyes widened in realization.

That aura…! That’s the Draconic Aura!

If she releases it here, the crowd will collapse under its pressure!

"Master Reika—"

"Pardon my interruption, but this bout should be halted immediately."

The dwarves' eyes widened in shock as they recognized the figure that had suddenly appeared in the middle of the match. The crowd, too, murmured in surprise.

"Wait… isn't that the dryad we saw weeks ago?" one of them asked.

Without hesitation, Veylir approached the dryad, her expression serious.

"Speak. What brings you here?"

The dryad remained silent, simply gazing at the dragon.

Veylir's eyes widened in realization.

The air around them grew tense. Everyone present noticed Veylir’s sudden shift and felt a chill run down their spines. No words needed to be spoken—the dryad’s arrival could only mean one thing.

The moment they had dreaded most had finally arrived.

The monster wave had begun.

"Units, assume your positions!" Alguis roared, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade.

Panic erupted as the women rushed to gather their children. Others sprinted toward the well, where a group of kids had been playing.

"Swordsman Unit! Gather the children and the elderly first—escort them to the large house and keep them safe!" Aeden commanded.

"Yes, Ma’am!" the swordsmen responded in unison before springing into action.

Meanwhile, the dwarves gripped their weapons tightly and hurried toward the dryad, who was still speaking with Veylir, Soru, and Reika.

"What’s the situation?" Alguis asked, his tone grim.

The dryad finally spoke.

"The Tyrant of the Lake, Gargantua, has begun its advance, leading a massive horde of monsters. The wave has already claimed lives—it destroyed an entire tribe near the lake’s vicinity."

"A tribe?" Alguis asked, confused.

The dryad nodded. "I forgot to mention it earlier, but aside from your settlement, three others reside within this forest—the goblin tribe, the ogre tribe, and the orc tribe."

Everyone was stunned by the revelation.

"Did you inform them about the monster wave?" Alguis asked.

"My sisters warned them a month ago," the dryad replied. "But they refused to abandon their homes, claiming they had nowhere else to go. They are prepared to die if it means protecting their land."

The dwarves sighed at her response.

"Well, we can't blame them," Alguis murmured.

"We should let them seek refuge here!" Reika suddenly exclaimed. "If they stay where they are while Gargantua is on the move, their entire tribe will be wiped out!"

Aeden, taken aback by her suggestion, quickly tried to intervene.

"But Miss Reika, letting them stay here is too—"

"If they join our ranks, our chances of repelling the wave will increase. More lives will be saved if we gather in one place!"

Alguis's eyes widened at her reasoning. After a moment of thought, he let out a sigh and nodded.

"...Alright," he said hesitantly.

"Miss Dryad, please guide them here to seek refuge," Reika pleaded.

"Do what she says," Veylir added.

The dryad gave a silent nod in response to Reika's request. Just then, another dryad materialized beside her.

"I have a report, eldest sister."

"Speak."

"The Lord of Variance, Adeptus, has begun to move. It seems it has noticed Gargantua's advance and is now making its own."

Except for Soru, everyone froze in shock. Fear and disbelief spread across their faces.

"N-No way…" Völun muttered in a trembling tone.

"We expected this outcome," Alguis said firmly. "All we need to do now is strengthen our resolve!"

His words steadied them, and they nodded in agreement.

"That's right!" Reika added. "Instead of panicking, we should focus on how to handle this situation!"

As they steadied themselves, Soru noticed an old man approaching—Silas, accompanied by a guard trained under the dwarves’ guidance.

"Sir Alguis, everyone incapable of fighting has been gathered inside," Silas reported.

"The Swordsman Unit is stationed at their designated positions, awaiting your orders," the guard added.

"Umu. Hold your positions for now—we're still in the middle of an urgent discussion," Aeden instructed.

Turning back to the dryads, Alguis asked, "Do you know the routes Adeptus and Gargantua will take?"

The eldest dryad nodded.

"Based on our estimates, Gargantua’s path will take it through the ogre tribe’s territory before reaching this human settlement. At its current pace, it will arrive here in approximately five hours."

"That short?!" everyone exclaimed in unison—except for Soru.

"...And Adeptus is expected to arrive in two hours at best," the other dryad continued. "Despite the longer distance, it moves alone and much faster than Gargantua. Along its path, the orc and goblin tribes will suffer the full force of its rampage."

"Wait... the goblin tribe as well?" Reika asked, her voice filled with concern.

Before anyone could respond, a sudden commotion drew their attention. A familiar figure came rushing toward them, his body covered in blood, fresh wounds oozing as he staggered forward.

Alguis's eyes widened in recognition.

"Gobuchiki?!"

The wounded goblin barely managed to reach them before collapsing into Reika's arms.

"What happened to you?!" she asked, panicked.

"M-Miss Reika..." Gobuchiki stammered, his voice weak and trembling.

<Heal>

Suddenly, several green orbs of light materialized and swiftly moved toward Gobuchiki’s wounds, healing them completely. The dwarves stared in shock, realizing that Reika could also perform life-type abilities such as Heal.

"Guhhh…"

Gobuchiki stirred and tried to stand up, but in his dazed state, his hand accidentally pressed against Reika’s chest. He blinked in confusion as he instinctively squeezed.

"Hm? I thought I was still in Miss Reika's arms. Why am I beside a wall now?"

The dwarves shifted uncomfortably, some gulping as they averted their eyes.

"Am I just hallucinating? But I'm certain that—GHAAAAK!!"

Before he could finish, Reika’s foot smashed into his gut, launching him backward. Her face flushed red, not from exertion, but from sheer embarrassment.

"If you have the strength to grope me and throw an insult, then your injuries clearly weren’t that bad!" she yelled, storming toward him.

Realizing his mistake, Gobuchiki scrambled to his knees and immediately groveled.

"I’m sorry, Miss Reika! I got confused and didn’t know it was yours!"

Reika’s eye twitched, and her anger flared even more.

So this idiot really mistook my chest for a wall?!

"M-Miss Reika, just forgive him for his impudence," Alguis pleaded, trying to de-escalate the situation.

Reika looked at Gobuchiki, who was nodding frantically, desperation written all over his face. With a sigh, she closed her eyes and forced herself to calm down.

"...Alright."

Veylir stepped forward, her expression serious.

"Why are you here? What happened to your people?"

At her question, Gobuchiki’s face paled. The memories of what he had witnessed came rushing back, his body trembling with fear.

"W-We were just going about our daily lives when a group of orcs suddenly arrived, wounded and desperate. They sought refuge in our village and warned us about a strange-looking monster that had attacked their tribe."

"So Adeptus has already passed through the orc settlement…" the younger dryad murmured. "Its pace is faster than expected."

Gobuchiki swallowed hard before continuing.

"Just when we were preparing to evacuate… that monster arrived and swept through our village like a storm! W-We could only watch in horror as our fellow goblins and the orcs were tossed around like dolls!"

Reika clenched her fists. "So the injuries you had earlier… were they from Adeptus’s attack?"

Gobuchiki shook his head. "No. I tripped a bunch of times while running here. That’s why I was covered in wounds."

The air fell silent.

"..."

Everyone had the same thought at that moment.

So he got those injuries just because he ran like an idiot?!

Suddenly, Gobuchiki clapped his hands together, startling everyone. Dropping to his knees, he pleaded desperately.

"Please! Help me save my fellow goblins—including the orcs! If we stay there any longer, we'll all be slaughtered!" Tears streamed down his face as he begged.

The group fell silent, unsure of what to do.

"Is your village far from here?" Aeden asked. "It might take us several hours to reach it, and we can't afford to leave the settlement unguarded."

"It is… but—!"

"Let Soru go with him," Reika interrupted, making everyone turn to her in shock.

Völun immediately stepped forward, concern etched on his face.

"M-Miss Reika? Sir Soru can't protect an entire group of stranded individuals alone! Not to mention—"

"Then that sister dryad will go with him to guide the survivors," Reika cut in firmly. "Soru’s job is to stall Adeptus while they escape."

She turned to Soru, her gaze unwavering.

"Soru, we need your help this time. Can you handle it?"

Soru nodded without telling a word. Seeing his silent agreement, the eldest dryad stepped forward.

"In that case, my sister will accompany this gentleman named Soru, along with the goblin," she declared.

The younger dryad lowered her head in acknowledgment.

Without another word, Gobuchiki followed the dryad, hurrying ahead. Soru was about to follow when Reika suddenly stopped him, leaning in to whisper in his ear.

"We'll finish our match next time…"

She smiled slightly before turning back to the group.

Soru didn’t reply. Without a word, he left, disappearing into the darkness.

Soru spotted Gobuchiki and the dryad waiting for him up ahead. As soon as he caught up, they resumed their pace, running as fast as they could while the dryad hovered just above the ground, guiding them toward the goblin village.

With every step, Gobuchiki’s anxiety grew.

Oh no! At this speed, our village might already be gone by the time we get there!

Just then, they noticed a group running toward them. As they got closer, Gobuchiki's eyes widened in recognition.

"My fellow goblins! And the orcs!"

The dryad, observing the group, murmured, "There are orcs among them as well…"

They quickly came to a stop to assess the group’s condition. The refugees were mostly women and children, with a few injured men groaning in pain from the wounds they had sustained.

Gobuchiki’s gaze locked onto an older goblin at the front of the group—the chief of their village. He was covered in wounds, barely able to stand.

"@#&$!"

The chief and Gobuchiki exchanged hurried words in a language Soru couldn’t understand. Moments later, Gobuchiki turned to him, his face pale with fear.

"There are still orcs and goblins left in the village! Those who could still fight stayed behind to stall the monster so the others could escape. We have to save them!"

Just as he was about to rush back, a hand grabbed his arm.

It was one of his friends, a goblin Soru had seen with him before. The goblin’s face was filled with desperation.

"Don't go… dangerous, there!"

Gobuchiki gently unhanded his friend’s grip and stood up.

"Don't try to stop me."

His voice carried unwavering determination. Without hesitation, he turned to the dryad and bowed his head slightly.

"Miss Dryad, please guide them back to the human settlement. Mister Soru and I will rescue the others ourselves."

The dryad glanced at the exhausted goblins and orcs. Seeing their state, she knew she had no choice but to accept his request.

Gobuchiki then addressed the group. "Follow the dryad. She will lead you to safety."

None of them tried to stop him. They knew there was no changing his mind, so they simply nodded and wished for his safe return.

"Sir Soru, let's go!"

Soru gave a small nod and silently followed Gobuchiki toward the village.

...

"GRAAAAAAHHH!"

"Spread out! Spread out!"

The battlefield was filled with the desperate shouts of orcs and goblins as they struggled to subdue the monstrous entity before them—the Lord of Variance, Adeptus.

"Sir! We've managed to deal heavy damage to its skin, but it keeps regenerating!" one of the orcs shouted.

The orc he was addressing was none other than Geruldo, the chief of the orc tribe. His name had been bestowed upon him by his people after his appointment as their leader.

"Keep attacking! Once the last group escapes safely, we’ll scatter in all directions to throw this damned thing off!" Geruldo bellowed, gripping his weapon tightly.

"But sir! At this rate, our armor and weapons won’t last!"

"Just… hold on!"

Unlike Geruldo, who was clad in sturdy ancestral armor, the other goblins and orcs wore only basic leather gear. The goblins wielded rusty swords, while the orcs swung heavy clubs in a desperate attempt to fend off Adeptus. Though they had managed to wound it, its relentless regeneration erased any sign of their attacks.

Then, Geruldo noticed something.

Adeptus had stopped moving. It raised its massive arm high into the air.

His heart sank.

It's preparing a large-scale attack!

"EVERYONE! RUN AS FAR AS YOU CAN!"

Without hesitation, the goblins and orcs scattered in all directions, pushing their exhausted bodies to their limits in a desperate attempt to escape the incoming devastation.

BOOOOM!!

All of them were flung into the air. Their ears rang from the deafening shockwave, followed by the harsh crackling of shattered earth and splintering trees. Geruldo, though heavier and clad in steel, was knocked back and sent rolling several meters across the ground.

"Hahh... Hahh..."

He coughed and quickly checked his armor. The once-pristine steel, passed down through generations, was now dented and battered from the relentless battle.

Ancestors, I apologize for ruining our family heirloom. If I survive this battle… I swear I’ll have it repaired.

As the dust settled, the devastation left by Adeptus became painfully clear.

With a single punch, the entire goblin village had been wiped from existence, replaced by a massive crater where homes once stood.

Geruldo took an unsteady step backward. His legs trembled, refusing to obey him as he stared in horror at the destruction before him.

"This…!"

"Sir Geruldo…!"

A voice called his name. He turned, only for his heart to sink further.

The surviving goblins and orcs were barely clinging to life, their bodies battered and bloodied from the onslaught.

"Everyone!"

"Sir! Behind you!"

Geruldo’s instincts screamed at him to move. A shadow loomed over him. He spun around—only to see a massive fist hurtling straight toward him.

His eyes darted across the battlefield, searching for his weapon. But his club was gone.

"Ghk…!"

He had no way to defend himself. No way to escape.

Geruldo let out a slow breath and knelt before Adeptus.

So this is how I die… not on my deathbed, but on the battlefield…

BOOOM!!

A split second passed.

Geruldo blinked. He was still alive.

The crushing blow never landed.

Instead, before him stood a young man—his hands outstretched, effortlessly blocking the massive fist of Adeptus.

Then, to Geruldo’s shock, Adeptus was flung backward. The monster tumbled across the ground, rolling several meters before crashing into a tree.

Geruldo could only stare in stunned silence.

The young man who had appeared out of nowhere was none other than Soru.

Gobuchiki, still catching his breath, wasted no time.

"Mister Soru! I-I'll take care of the wounded! Please, just keep that monster away from us!" he shouted.

Soru nodded silently. And then—he vanished.

Geruldo, still on his knees, clenched his fists as realization dawned.

"Who… Who is he?"