Before taking a well-earned rest, Logan surveyed the scene around him. Thousands of newly arrived refugees stood or sat in clusters, their faces etched with despair. Some wept openly, others groaned in pain, while many gazed into the distance, lost in their grief.
The sheer number of displaced people was staggering, and Logan was thankful that Marie and Silvia had chosen an area outside his city to house them temporarily. It was a wise decision, allowing the city to avoid being overwhelmed by the sudden influx of people.
Lady Elera was already hard at work, tending to her people with tireless resolve. Her knights moved through the crowd, ensuring order and preventing unrest. Logan, sensing the urgency of their needs, summoned Terra and the mole colony to construct more temporary shelters for the refugees. They would need at least a few days before beginning the monumental cleanup required to rebuild their homeland.
After issuing orders, Logan took a moment to rest, only to be approached by Lady Elera. Nearing forty, her black hair was streaked with silver, and faint wrinkles lined her face, giving her an air of wisdom and a weariness earned through hardship.
Rising to his feet, Logan extended a hand in greeting. Lady Elera grasped it, and as she did, a subtle change came over her as Logan casted rejuvenation magic on her. Though her appearance did not grow younger, her posture straightened, and she seemed reinvigorated, as though she had rested for hours.
"Thank you, King Logan," Lady Elera said, her voice tinged with gratitude and melancholy. "You've saved us this time. While we've lost our home, at least most of my people were spared. Yet, we've dwindled in numbers once again."
She sighed heavily, her gaze sweeping over the countless refugees who now relied on her and Logan for guidance and hope.
"Don't worry," Logan began, his voice steady and reassuring. "Until the war is over, you're all welcome to stay here. I'll do my best to end this conflict as soon as I achieve my next evolution. For now, we can set up a teleportation array to send teams to work on construction in your lands every few days."
He paused as a distant rumbling reached his ears—Scorch's heavy steps, signaling its approach.
"For now, we'll focus on building temporary shelters here," Logan continued. "I know we could establish something in your lands, but it's far too dangerous there for the next few days."
Turning to Bobby, Logan called out, "Take over the rest of the construction plan, I have told my creatures to follow your instructions." With that settled, Logan turned back to Lady Elera. "You're welcome to my castle so we can discuss future plans."
Before Logan could say more, Marie rushed toward him, urgency written across her face.
"Logan, there's been another attack in the Kingdom of Elris while you were fighting in the Pearl Isles," Marie said, her voice tinged with sorrow. "George has died... and Jonathan—he's been taken away."
Lady Elera, who overheard the news, clenched her fists, her composure breaking for the first time as anger flashed across her face.
"I'm sorry to hear of the hero's death, King Logan. If there's anything we can do—" she began, but Logan interrupted gently.
"Don't worry about it, Lady Elera. For now, focus on your people. We'll talk more later."
As Logan spoke, his attention shifted momentarily to the scene unfolding nearby. Bobby, Terra, and the mole crew were hard at work, constructing temporary shelters for the refugees. Buildings rose steadily from the ground, a faint glimmer of progress amidst the despair.
Logan sighed, his thoughts heavy with the weight of George's death. What had led to this tragic outcome? The question lingered as he turned toward Rosethorn, where Lisa, Silvia, Marie, Serana, Charlotte, and several other heroes had gathered to assist him. He noted their presence but lacked the patience to remember all their names at that moment.
Jin, the monk, huffed in irritation as his presence seemed overlooked, but his friend Chris placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. Chris understood the somber mood that enveloped them all—the death of a hero was a crushing blow, one that made the world's dangers all too real.
Some in the group still treated their roles as part of a grand game, but the loss forced others to pause and reflect on the grave reality they faced.
Logan hated Jonathan, George, and Brian. Their deaths didn't weigh heavily on his conscience, but the power lost was enough to force him to consider the future. They had been the three strongest members after him, and with proper teamwork—especially a tank among them—the outcome might have been different. Now, the class would need to rethink their strategies and prepare more carefully.
No one said much during the quiet walk to the castle. There, Alma and Ms. Claire were waiting for them, their expressions betraying concern.
"Silvia, can you teleport the heroes waiting in Elris?" Ms. Claire asked, hoping to reunite the class and ensure everyone's safety.
"I'll do it," Logan interjected firmly. "Silvia, take a break with the others. Head inside while I activate the teleportation array."
Logan could see how exhausted everyone was, and he didn't mind taking on the extra work to help them recover. Being one of the few level 80s in the class, he had the strength to take charge in critical moments .
He headed toward the specially constructed room for teleportation arrays within the castle. As he approached, Logan noticed many new faces—knights and mages stationed near the area, a reminder of the precautions now necessary.
Soon, he arrived at the room, heavily fortified and resembling a dungeon. Designed with safety in mind, the room ensured that demons couldn't hijack the teleportation array and cause further chaos. Logan stepped inside as he prepared to activate the array and bring the heroes to safety.
The general-use array functioned differently from Silvia's personal array. It allowed anyone with mana to activate it, but its limitation lay in needing a matching array to be set up at the destination—a contrast to Silvia's array, which required only her ability to save specific areas for teleportation.
With the assistance of nearby mages, Logan began opening a portal. Seven heroes emerged from the shimmering gateway, their presence a mix of relief and unease. Logan was silently pleased they hadn't brought Brian along—he could have caused unnecessary tension.
"Hey there, Logan. We've returned. I guess you've heard the news by now," said Owen, the charismatic archer, his bright smile a subtle attempt to lift the others' spirits after witnessing the brutal loss of one of their own.
"Yes," Logan replied gravely. "We're preparing for a meeting with the heroes currently in my kingdom. We need to discuss our plans and figure out how to deal with the war that's advancing faster than we anticipated."
Logan's sharp eyes noticed the group's relative lack of injuries, suggesting they had joined the fight late—or had avoided heavy confrontation.
"Sure, we'll follow you. Lead the way," Owen said, glancing at Yui and Ren as they supported Halie, the summoner. She looked deeply shaken, the defeat weighing heavily on her appearance. More than pain, it looked like fear had grasped her heart.