Grand Ecstasy and Wanderer traverse she bloody snow field of Layer and talk to spend idle time.

  "You guys must been enjoyed your vacation in Zelestre so much?"

  Mateo and Claustrine look on Monica who just smugly smiling at them then gets close to Claustrine as she proceed to touch her skin.

  "Your skin is so tan. Almost similar to Mateo. Is beaches on Zelestre really that good?"

  "Ehe yes..." Claustrine awkwardly agrees as she can't really say thay her suntan came from another world.

  "We should also have a vacation Graham. It's been a while since the last time we relaxed a little bit." Boltz look at Graham buy he see him bored as hell. Only to remember that Graham is not the kind that wants to chill out.

  "Hayss."

  Graham makes a deep sigh.

  "Not even a single sight of the White Queen. It's starting to become boring here."

  "Come on Graham. It's just the first day. Just be patient." Monica's gentle encouragement.

  The weather is great and the group only get few beast encounters which make Graham bored as he wish for some light work out.

  "It's like you're expecting an Apex to appear." Boltz commented.

  "At this point. That's a better option."

  "No. Please don't" Mateo and Claustrine simultaneously refuse.

  "Why it sounds like you both encountered an Apex?"

  "Because we are." Mateo sigh as he remembers when two Apex beasts almost caught them.

  "Really?! Are they really strong?" Graham feels surge of excitement.

  "There's a reason why it requires more parties or a Platinum to fight one. And from what we saw that day, that requirement is fully justified." Claustrines serious explanation.

  Their chatter got interrupted when they saw from a distance what seems a huge white fog.

  "It's a blizzard. Tsk." Boltz annoyance.

  "That things would surely engulf us. This one is a dangerous one." Monica commented as she use her telescope to look at the upcoming blizzard.

  "Lets take shelter. There's a cabin near us. But we still gonna get reached by the blizzard before we got there."

  "Ok Mateo. Lead the way." Graham's approval.

  And just like Mateo predicted. The Blizzard fully embrace the group which slows them down for a bit. But they manage to reach the cabin safely.

  "Trinne make a fire."

  "Ok."

  The group is now resting around the campfire which giving them warmth and heating their food. The two party enjoys telling stories of their adventures as they eat soup and bread until they're just waiting for the blizzard to disappear. But...

  "This blizzard is sureeely gonna be long huh?" Monica's concerned question.

  "I guess so."

  Monica sips on her drink.

  "Huh?! What is this?!" Monica asked with delight as she look on her cup.

  "That's coffee. Do you like it?" Claustrine answers as she drinks on her own coffee.

  "I love it! I love the fragrance and the sweet, bitter and creamy taste. Where you got this kopi? Please give me some and teach me how to make it."

  "Hehe sure sure but after this mission. How about you Boltz and Graham? You two also want a cup?"

  "Sure. Thanks."

  Graham lies down in annoyance.

  "I rather sleep for a while. Wake me up later."

  "Okaaay. Your lost." Monica's melodic words.

  But before Graham starts to close her eyes. He and the others got alerted by a slam coming from the cabin's door.

  "What?!" Mateo's surprise.

  "Who's there?!" Monica's loud question as she look on the hooded figure standing right in front of the door.

  .

  .

  "Helyna?!"

  "Helyna?! What?!"

  Mateo and Claustrine are completely shocked to finally recognize the figure who turned out to be Helyna. Helyna is just standing and looking at them until her eyes slowly close as she fall face down. Mateo catch Helyna before she even hit the floor.

  "You know her?" Boltz's question as he watch Mateo carry Helyna near the fire to warm her up.

  "Yes. She's with us when we fight Dereia. But we have no idea what happened to her after that."

  Monica looks on the sleeping Helyna. Observing her injuries and disheveled appearance.

  "It seems she got a hard time." Monica's sad opinion.

  Boltz goes near Helyna and starts to heal her injuries while the others observe the outside.

  "There's no visible threat, for now." Mateo's report.

  "What fo you mean "for now"? It's not like monsters can enter the barrier protecting this cabin."

  "I'm not concerned on the beasts. I'm more concerned on the people chasing Helyna which might be a beast on their own." Mateo's serious words that makes Wanderer concerned.

  "Is Helyna fine?" Claustrine asked worriedly.

  "Yes. Her injuries are not that severe and its manageable. But it might take a while before she wake up."

  "I see... Well then. Lets hide Helyna and wait for her pursuers. They're gonna be here anytime now.

  .

  .

  .

  10 minutes later. Their wait pays off as a group of seven men enters the cabin. They're on high alert and wielded their weapons.

  "Calm down. There's no monsters here." Mateo's words.

  The leader realizes the situation and commands his members to lower their weapons as they don't want to look suspicious and get the attention of the unknown party currently residing in the cabin.

  "Have a seat and warm yourselves. This blizzard must been freezing you up." Mateo's invitation. The seven men look at each other before they sit next to the fire.

  "Also got caught by the blizzard?" The leader asked.

  "Yeah. How about you, it seems that there's more on your part when you enter the cabin wielding your weapons?"

  The Leader is taken back by the question but he manage to retain composure.

  "Let me introduce ourselves first. My name is Herian and I'm the leader of Ameron party."

  "Ameron party? Never heared that before?" Mateo's pondering.

  "That's natural because we're more active on the desert areas especially in kingdom of Jubal."

  "Wait... Ameron Party? You guys are stars on the Eastern guilds' Gold rank scene. It's nice to meet ya'll." Graham's happy gesture.

  "The pleasure is same for us. I didn't expect that we going to meet Wanderer here." Herian's compliment.

  "Why a party from Eastern part of the continent have a business on Reverse Tower? It's like a thousand miles distance ." Monica's curious questioning which make Herian laugh.

  "Are the Wanderers the only party allowed to explore the world?"

  "Hmmm... Fair enough." Monica smiles.

  "Ok lets go straight to the point shall we? We're actually here because Ameron is currently hunting a criminal?"

  "Bounty mission on the Reverse Tower?" -Boltz.

  "I know that's weird. But our sources told us that the target's last stop was inside this tower so here we are. Stranded on this blizzard. In fact, we want to ask you all if you seen someone. She must also aiming to reach this cabin."

  "Is your target a young lady wearing a mage attire but she's really a skilled swordswoman?"

  The Ameron party is shocked as they clearly recognize the descriptors Mateo said. They almost reach for their weapons but Herian secretly signals them to hold.

  "Ohh... How do you know our target? So she must visited here right?"

  The tension rising inside the cabin. The Wanderers are confused on the sudden hostility showed by Grand Ecstasy. But knowing the state of Helyna the first time they seen her. Wanderer kinda feeling that what Ameron party is saying cannot be trusted.

  Mateo sneakly place his hand on her sword, prepared to draw it.

  "Because there's no way for Helyna to become a criminal if she's the one hunting the kinds of you. Isn't that right, Ameron the party of Serial Rapists?"

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  Wanderer are jolted up and alerted after Mateo's revelation. They instantly wielded their weapons alongside Ameron party members. The two side are in stand-off.

  "M-Mateo... Are you sure they're THAT group of serial rapists?" Graham's shocked question.

  Wanderer on their travels around the world also hears the infamous story started 4 months ago. A group of serial rapists killing female adventurers inside the dungeons. But no one really have idea what they look like as the only evidence of their existence are the desecrated remains of their female victims.

  "Yes Graham. I promise you that they're criminals."

  "Then Helyna must be the Headhuntress?" Monica's question as the decriptor said by Mateo makes her think as the chat continues.

  "Yes. I don't know what happened to her bu-"

  CLANG!

  Mateo blocks a sword strike from Herian who proceeds to leap backwards after his failed attempt of assassination.

  "Tsk!"

  Inside the cabin, two side aims their weapons and attentions to each other. A single attempt would surely turn everything in chaos.

  "So it's true huh? Helyna is your next target?" Mateo's serious question which make Herian laugh.

  "Yes and how about it? What you gonna do?"

  "I can't believe it. To think that the serial rapists gang is turned out to be an established adventurer party?" Boltz's disbelief.

  "But why?! You guys are the Ameron?! How you can do such thing?!" Graham asked, he's holding his spear with fury.

  "Why you ask?"

  Herian makes a sinister depraved smile alongside his party members.

  "Because we have the power to do it. The brothels are no thrill but when we trick and hunt those girls, we feel more alive and enjoy this dangerous job even more.

  Herian points his sword to Wanderer and Grand Ecstasy.

  "Wanderer and two random adventurers huh? I think that we can beat you all and we surely enjoy our time playing with you two beautiful ladies and the other one you trying to hide." Herian said with dreadful desire followed by the lustful howls of his crew.

  Monica summoned numerous orbs from the tip of her staff.

  "I'm so fucking angry right now." Monica speaks with wrath.

  Mateo unsheath his sword.

  "Don't worry Monica, we all feel the same way."

  .

  .

  From the outside, the cabin is still standing strong after the raging blizzard passed by. Until...

  BOOM!

  The cabin explodes, sending timbers on the red stained snow field but the chaos only continues as the combatants fights to the best of their abilities. The explosion also caused the people inside to scatter on the open field as they avoud being close to the enemy in group.

  The Ameran archer swiftly escapes the close range chaos as he run towards the snowy uphill and charge his large bow, aimed at Graham who too focused on fighting two Ameran swordsman, deflecting their coordinated swords attacks with his elegant spear dance.

  An ice wall appeared between the Archer and Graham. Casted by Claustrine.

  "Ha. Do you think a mere wall of ice can stop my arrow?."

  The tip of the arrow glows as it got infused with mana.

  SWISH!

  The strenght of the large bow is superb as it makes a gust of wind after releasing the string.

  The arrow flies and destroy the ice wall with ease. Graham sees the glowing flying arrow but he's not worried at a slightest.

  The arrow suddenly curves and it instead hit the thick white shield of Boltz. He's raising his glowing mace.

  It's one of Boltz paladin abilities. Being the frontline of his party, he ensures that attacks from enemies pass at him first.

  And his Paladin magic gifted by Vivvily named

  makes sure that any long ranged attack got redirected to the Paladin for him to block safely.

  But it's not a powerful ability.

  "Projectile Attraction? As expected. That attract all of these!"

  "The Ameran archer fires 5 arrows in different targets. 2 for Graham, 1 for Monica, 1 for Mateo and 1 for Boltz.

  The weakness of

  is it can only attract the projectiles who in constant vision of the Paladin. And the archer use that knowledge and spread his shots, forcing Boltz to choose which arrow he must attract.

  Boltz decides to Attract the two arrows aimed at Graham then block it with his shield alongside the arrow aimed at him. The strenght of oversized arrows are no joke as it managed to push him for few feet.

  "That's your choice? Well then I guess the two of your friends gonna die now."

  But his expectation got destroyed as the arrow flying towards Monica is blocked by one of Monica's bubbles which she controlled after sensing the arrow. The collision causes an explosion which quickly drowned out by the other orbs exploding.

  And the arrow aimed at Mateo got parried by him alongside the attacks of Herian. Both Herian and the Archer are in disbelief as they didn't expected the what seemed a nobody can fight on equal footing with Wanderer and them.

  The Archer's disbelief is quickly replace by panic as he notice something amidst.

  "Where is she?!"

  Among his opponents, there's one lady he really wants to taste the most. The Beautiful calm looking blonde mage that's why he don't want to focus his attack and damage her as he wants to experience the lady in her full glory.

  But Archer watched and attack from the distance. He didn't see the mage anymore. She dissapears on his awareness completely.

  And an enemy suddenly dissapearing on his sight means danger as it only two things.

  Either they escape like a coward which a bad thing as they become a witness and reveal their crimes to the adventurers guild.

  Or they're plotting something which is even more terrible and downright deadly.

  *Yawwwn.*

  Suddenly. The archer feel very sleepy only for him to get a sudden burst of energy as he realized something.

  "No fucking way!"

  The Archer tries to leave the area but his body and eyes become too heavy on each step. Until he finally knocked out and fall face down to the red smudged snow. His eyes still wide open but his mind is absent.

  Footprints getting engraved by an invisible person on each step at the snow far from the area where the archer gets knocked down. It stops and the footprints belongs to Claustrine as she deactivates her midnight cloaking. After that, she cancels her constant creation of Carfentanil gas. Turning the area safe as the invisible anesthesia she created with her mana burn and fades away.

  "Ok no more threat. I think they can handle the rest down there."

  Claustrine slumped on the snow as she feel weak after spending huge amount mana on such experiment.

  "Hehe I guess recreating such thing is really hard. Good luck guys." Claustrine speaks as she observes the fight below.

  .

  .

  "Araaa~ Aren't three vs one a very disadvantage match up? I'm just a delicate lady yet you three can't even touch me." Monica sweetly taunts.

  "Shut up!"

  The three Ameran adventurer are already recieved injuries due to the explosive attacks of Monica.

  The swordsman and assassin can't land a single attack on Monica who surrounds not only herself but the surroundings with explosive bubbles that Monica can manipulate with ease.

  "Hey can you even do something about these bubbles?!" The swordsman looks at another member who is a mage.

  "I can't. I might cause a chain reaction with just a single mistake."

  The assassin looks on the floating orbs in the air.

  "So it's still leads on our reflexes then. As long as I don't touch those bubbles."

  The assassin tighten his grip on his daggers and proceeds to dash forward. His footworks dodges all of Monica's bubbles including the ones she controlled to block the path of the dual-wielding fighter.

  "Oh noooo~" Monica panics. Her words makes the previously stoic assassin to smirk impishly.

  The thing that makes him excited is crushing the confidence of their victims who manages to fight back. Savouring their humiliation until they become an empty broken husk.

  And watching Monica panics as she tries to block his path with more bubble to no avail makes the Assassin even more aroused and eager for the upcoming event.

  "This is fun!" The Assassin screams with glee.

  A bubble suddenly appear out of thin air directly in front of the Assassin's face.

  BOOM!

  The assassin sent flying towards the other bubbles causing more explosions.

  The Ameran Swordsman and Mage watch in disbelief but they clearly understand why it happened.

  "Fucking stupid!" The swordsman curse.

  The first impression was Monica is summoning the bubbles from her staff directly and spreading them to the air.

  But they clearly see a bubble appears from non-existence thus causing the Assassin to not factor the sudden information and causing his defeat.

  More bubbles appear out of thin air as Monica spreads her arms.

  "One of Adventurer's Unwritten Survival Rule is "Overconfidence paves the bricks to the path of doom". I can't fathom how you guys can forgot such important tip." Monica calmly speaks.

  "Tsk. Then that must also apply to you you bitch?"

  Monica makes a gasp then followed a gentle smile.

  "That's where you wrong dear boys. I might be confident."

  Monica points her finger upwards then a spinning bubble appears on the tip. Then she points it towards the two combatants.

  SWOOSH!

  The two didn't even notice the bubble passing by between their heads. They can only hear the explosion far behind them as they look at still smiling Monica.

  "But that confidence is coming from the fact that I can really defeat you with ease. And I guess you two also realizing that now."

  Monica swirls her bubbles.

  "So what's your next move? You see most of my abilities now so that must be enough for you to make a counter-attack right?"

  "Heh. You twisted fucking liar." The swordsman smirks but his smirks is filled with doubt and fear.

  "Where the fuck is Visar?! He must do something and attack her from the distance!" The mage panics as he tries to find their Archer.

  "Why things even turn out this way?! You're not even my type!" The Swordsman's tantrum.

  "Araa~ that hurts. What is your type then?"

  "That young lady you trying to hide!"

  Monica sighs.

  "So you like them young huh? What a depraved individual."

  The two just see the bubbles around them suddenly rushing at their location.

  A myriad of small explosions occurs for a second until it stops, revealing the two Ameran adventurers badly damage. Still breathing but incapable of fighting anymore.

  "Oh my~ I must overdid it a little bit. Sorry but please just bear it a little more. You need to face your trial first." Monica sweet speaks.

  Monica joyfully walks near where Boltz and two Ameran are fighting.

  "Boltz! Need some help there?!" Monica asked.

  Boltz is trading blows with a Knight and a Giant axe wielder. The two forces are in complete stalemate as they can't even give each other a fatal blow.

  The two Ameran got alerted on Monica's presence.

  "Huh?!?"

  The knight looks on the area where Monica came from only to see his three friends lying unconcious and badly beaten.

  "It gonna be bad news if that woman joins this fight." The axeman speaks.

  "We're lucky that we matched up against their frontline but..."

  The knight looks on Boltz. His white armor and shield are still pristine and sturdy.

  "That man is also a monster on its own. We didn't even manage to damage him."

  "Those church power ups are annoying." The axeman spits.

  "But why he almost have no offensive power?"

  The knight's question got answered easily when Boltz accepts Monica's help. Monica quickly summons a huge amount of bubbles around them, the same bubbles he already heared exploding.

  The knight and axeman just look up and close their eyes.

  .

  .

  Herian is trading blows with Mateo who effortlessly blocked and parried all of his sword strikes. Herian is sweating beads as be attempted to match Mateo's pace.

  "H-How!? Who the fuck are you?!"

  But Mateo didn't answer but instead he just continue to defend and attack. Herian also manages to avoid Mateo's sword swings but each attempt is a close call.

  On each strike, he feel the enourmous weight on them that it slowly drains his strenght. At first, he blocks the sword but as the fight continues, he instead evade them all.

  "Hey Mateo! Want to have a swap?!"

  Herian hears the voice of Graham. The spearman just watching them casually.

  Herian creates distance between him and Mateo who just allowed him to have his rest. Herian was so focused on fighting the surprisingly strong opponent that he didn't even realized his team went silent.

  He looks around only to see his party members already defeated and lying on the cold snow.

  "Unbealievable... So this is the power of Wanderer?" Herian is slowly engulfed with fear. Then he looks on Mateo, confusion still etched on his face.

  "But you?! You're not a Wanderer member alongside the other girl?! Who are you?!" Herian asked with anger.

  "What? You don't know him?" Monica asked as her alongside Boltz joins Graham on being observers.

  Claustrine also comes back with the still sleeping Archer on her tow.

  "So you're the one that defeated him. Thanks." -Boltz.

  "Thank you so much Trinne! I own you a big one this time! That dude is extremely annoying!" Monica hugs Claustrine.

  "Ugh." Claustrine's annoyance as she got pinned on Monica's breast again.

  Herian taken back by the bizzare scene but he comes back on the topic.

  "Why I supposed to know him?!"

  "Because the one you fighting is the party leader of Grand Ecstasy." Monica casually answers as she continues to hug Claustrine.

  Herian's world sunk down after hearing the name.

  Grand Ecstasy is a name ringing to the guilds around Yhigressia due to their recent achievements. Even to the harsh desert Ameron called home.

  The party that fights a legendary hero and lived to tell the tale.

  The party who favored by Gilmore. A descendant of a hero and now a Hero-ranked adventurer.

  The party that defeats and killed Dereia Morningdew who is a Platinum rank bounty.

  Herian is like got poured down by buckets of freezing cold water even in the already chilling environment. Ameron party just make a terrible mistake. Not only they fight Wanderer with absurd confidence, but also Grand Ecstasy. Two powerful top Gold rank adventurers.

  Herian looks at Mateo. His expression is fear and disbelief.

  "What the fuck is this nonsense?" Herian asked.

  "Justice, I supposed?" Mateo casually answer as he walks towards Herian.

  This is the end of their run as criminals. Herian thought as he watch Mateo continues his slow steps. Even if he continue to fight and in some miracle defeat him, the rest would surely bring him the defeat.

  Yet...

  Herian comes back to his combat stance and face Mateo. Fear and Bravery conflicting as he shows a confident stride.

  .

  .

  "DON'T MAKE A SINGLE FUCKING MOVE!"

  Grand Ecstasy and Wanderer focus their gaze on the sudden scream only to see the Ameran Assassin. He's lifting Helyna on her hair, a shaking blade pointed on her throat.

  "ONE WRONG MOVE AND I WILL KILL THIS BITCH! PUT YOUR WEAPONS BACK ON YOUR BAGS!" The Assassin screams at the top of his lungs.

  Herian's insecured form quickly change into a twisted glee as he watch situation change to their favor.