Limitless Summoner: Rise of the Soul God

Ethan did not look back and continued walking. He knew Lia wanted to follow him, but this time, he wanted to push himself more than he had ever done. He was weak and helpless before, but now he had something to lean back on.

The image of the bulky demon that had thrashed him around, not once but twice, still haunted him in the night sometimes. He wanted to face that thing again, and this time, he wanted to win.

Ethan walked down the busy streets with his bag slung over his shoulder, trying his best to look normal. As he reached the massive iron gates, two stern-faced guards stood vigil, their eyes sweeping the crowd.

One of them barked, "Hold up, boy! Where do you think you're off to in such a hurry?" Ethan paused, forcing a polite smile despite the knot of anxiety tightening in his chest. "I—I'm just heading out," he replied, his voice steady but low. "I'll be careful, sir." The guards grunted in response, and after a brief moment, Ethan was allowed through.

Once beyond the city walls, the scenery began to change. The cobblestone streets gave way to a rougher, dustier path. Yet as he reached the outskirts, he noticed that the presence of guards had only increased. More patrols crisscrossed the area, their uniforms crisp and eyes vigilant.

At one point, a small contingent formed an impromptu barrier, clearly determined to scrutinize every passerby. Ethan realized that if he tried to push through, his presence would arouse suspicion—something he couldn't afford with his wanted status.

As he slowed to reconsider his options, he noticed a small gathering near a recruitment post. A ragtag group of people—cooks, errand boys, and other odd-job workers—stood around a notice board, chatting and discussing something seriously.

Ethan scanned the group and couldn't help but smirk. With his rather unconventional, slightly ugly appearance, he blended in perfectly with the motley crew.

With little choice and a desperate need to avoid drawing attention, he stepped forward and inquired about the positions being offered.

After a brief and surprisingly informal interview—where he even managed to joke about his "face that even a demon might scurry away from"—Ethan was accepted as an errand boy.

The recruiters seemed more amused than impressed, and his rough exterior fit right in with the rest of the crew.

Before he knew it, Ethan found himself bundled into a creaky carriage along with the other recruits. The engine coughed and wheezed as the vehicle rumbled away from the city, its wooden wheels clacking over the uneven road.

Inside the carriage, the atmosphere was lively: the errand boys bantered among themselves, and the recruits shared nervous excitement about fighting against demons and gaining honor for themselves and their families.

Apparently, the local lord offered several rewards for the fighters and reputation for their entire family, and this was a chance for many to push themselves to the noble ranks. Discover hidden content at My Virtual Library Empire

As the carriage rolled steadily toward the outskirts, Ethan leaned back against a weathered bench. He watched the city shrink in the distance, its spires and towers giving way to open fields and scattered homesteads.

Soon, they reached the area where the guards were camping. The makeshift tents and smoldering fire pits were scattered about, and in the distance, Ethan could see the rough outline of the territory where the demons had been spotted. The area looked rugged and wild, a far cry from the orderly streets of the city.

His heart skipped a beat as he recognized the place—wasn't this near the border town he had crossed by? So the same demon army that attacked their group was now making its way to this city? What happened to the other city?

There were many questions in his mind. He needed to know what was happening. Ethan tried to listen in on the conversations without drawing any attention to himself.

One guard, his voice low and edged with uncertainty, admitted, "I don't really know what's going on out there. Last night, we just got word that demons might be stirring up, but it's all still a mess."

Another guard replied, "Yeah, they're slowly sending out small scouting teams. We're trying to piece together what's happening, but the reports are all over the place."

Ethan's mind raced. The fact that even the guards weren't sure what was happening meant that the situation was far more unpredictable than he'd imagined. Every word confirmed his own growing anxiety about his safety—and his need to level up his summoning skills.

He watched as small groups of guards began packing up their gear, preparing to leave on scouting missions. Each group had one of those little lackeys hauling equipment, and Ethan decided to tag along with one of the teams.

He figured that if he could overhear more details about the demon situation, maybe he'd finally learn what was really going on—and also figure out how to break off and go on his own.

The team was already on the move, trudging along a dirt path that led deeper into the rugged outskirts. The air here was cooler and carried the faint smell of smoke and damp earth. The group headed east. Ethan saw that they were very close to the small town now.

From the looks of it, the guards also had the same questions in their minds. Everyone was dissatisfied with the current mission.

"Aren't we so close to Rathia? What happened to the townsfolk? Do we really not know anything about it?"

"How did the Lord not get any information about this from Lord Nessleson through the communication crystal? We are risking our lives by going there without any information."

"Heh. Why do you think they are sending in grunts like us? We are nobodies. We are expendables. We are the ones who will be gathering this information."

"Sigh. It's not like we can say no. If our orders are to die, then we have no other choice but to die."

"Come on man, don't be such a downer. We are not going to die. I am sure this is all just rumors. The carriage driver probably saw bandits and reported them as demons."

Just as they were discussing, suddenly rustling sounds erupted from the nearby bushes, snapping everyone to attention. The guards froze mid-conversation, their eyes darting toward the source of the noise.

Then chaos ensued.