Modern Weapons Cheat in Fantasy World-Chapter 26: Verification

In the morning. At the adventurer’s guild. A four-member party was formed by the guildmaster.

They stood near the front hall, already prepared to move.

Darius Hale stood at the front. Mid-thirties. Broad shoulders, short dark hair cut close to the scalp, a clean beard trimmed tight along the jaw. His posture stayed straight even at rest. He wore light plate over leather, reinforced at the chest and shoulders, enough to take a hit without slowing him down. At his left hip hung a longsword, plain but well-maintained. A round shield was strapped across his back.

C-rank. Warrior.

Beside him was Lira Voss. Late twenties. Slim build, pale skin, long black hair tied back into a tight braid. Her eyes moved constantly, taking in details others missed. She wore a fitted mage’s coat layered over light leather, with small pouches sewn along the sides. A short wand rested at her belt, alongside a thin dagger.

C-rank. Mage. Assigned as recorder.

Behind them stood Bren Korr. Early thirties. Thick build, arms heavy with muscle, shaved head with a faint scar running across the side. He wore heavier armor than the rest, chain layered under hardened leather, bracers reinforced at the forearms. A two-handed axe rested over his shoulder, its edge clean and sharp.

D-rank. Warrior.

At the back was Joren Vale. Early twenties. Lean, slightly taller than the rest, brown hair falling just above his eyes. His movements were light, controlled, always shifting his weight without wasting energy. He wore dark leather gear, minimal plating, built for speed rather than defense. A short bow was slung across his back, with a quiver of arrows resting at his side. A short blade was strapped along his thigh.

C-rank. Scout.

Elaina stood in front of them, holding a rolled map.

"You’ve all been briefed," she said. "Verification only. No engagement unless necessary."

Darius took the map and unrolled it slightly, scanning the markings.

"Eastern ridge," he said. "Same coordinates he reported."

Elaina nodded.

"Correct."

Bren shifted his stance, glancing toward the hall.

"So we’re really checking if one guy wiped out a nest," he said.

Joren didn’t look at him.

"He brought down wyverns in the city," he said. "You saw the aftermath."

Bren scoffed.

"That was two. Maybe three. This is different."

Lira closed her notebook and tucked it into her satchel.

"That’s why we’re going," she said.

Darius rolled the map back up.

"We confirm. Nothing more."

Elaina’s eyes moved across each of them.

"If there are survivors, you withdraw," she said. "You do not engage."

Darius nodded once.

"Understood."

He stepped away from the counter.

"We move."

They stepped out of the guild and into the morning air.

The city was already active. Merchants were setting up stalls. Workers carried planks and tools toward damaged buildings. The marks from yesterday were still visible along the rooftops, patched sections of wood, fresh beams, dark scorch marks that hadn’t been cleaned yet.

Darius didn’t slow. He took the lead without looking back.

They moved through the streets in a loose file. Joren stayed near the rear but his eyes were up, scanning the skyline and the open spaces between buildings. Bren walked heavier, boots striking the stone with a steady rhythm. Lira kept pace beside Darius, one hand resting near her wand, the other adjusting the strap of her satchel.

No one spoke.

They passed through the eastern gate without delay. The guards gave them a quick look, recognized the guild insignia, and stepped aside.

Once outside, the ground opened up.

The road stretched forward, packed dirt with shallow wheel tracks pressed into it. Grass lined both sides. Visibility was clear for several hundred meters in every direction.

Darius kept them on the main road at a steady pace.

"Time to first marker," he said. "Fifteen minutes."

Joren glanced ahead.

"Nothing in the air," he said.

Bren snorted.

"Of course there isn’t. If there were, we’d already have a problem."

"No," Joren replied. "If there were, they’d be circling."

Bren gave him a sideways look but didn’t answer.

They continued.

The first stretch passed without incident. The sun climbed higher, casting longer shadows behind them as they moved. The road curved slightly, just as the map indicated.

Darius slowed when he saw it.

"Marker," he said.

Off to the side of the road sat the broken stone well. Half collapsed. Old. Dry.

He stepped off the path and approached it, crouching briefly to check the ground.

"Tracks," he said.

Joren moved closer and crouched beside him.

"Old," he added. "Not from today."

"Caravan?" Lira asked.

"Most likely," Darius said.

He stood.

"We move."

They left the main road and entered the narrower path.

The terrain changed immediately.

The ground sloped upward. Roots cut through the soil, uneven and exposed. The trees closed in, reducing visibility. Light filtered through the branches in narrow strips.

Bren shifted the axe on his shoulder.

"Better place for an ambush," he said.

Darius didn’t look at him.

"Stay alert."

Joren moved slightly ahead now, taking point for the path. His steps were lighter, quieter, adjusting to the uneven ground without losing pace.

"Trail’s used," he said. "Not abandoned."

"Animals?" Lira asked.

"Some," he said. "Not recent."

They kept moving.

The air grew cooler under the trees. The wind was weaker here, blocked by the density of the forest.

Bren broke the silence again.

"You really believe it?" he asked.

"No," Darius said.

Joren glanced back.

"I do," he said.

Bren scoffed.

"You believe one E-rank cleared a nest alone."

"He’s not E-rank anymore," Joren said.

"That doesn’t change what he was yesterday."

"It changes what he did," Joren replied.

Bren opened his mouth to answer, but Darius cut in.

"Enough."

They went quiet again.

Another ten minutes passed.

The slope grew steeper. The trees thinned slightly, opening gaps where the sky could be seen between branches. The ground was rougher now, broken stone mixed with dirt.

Darius slowed.

"Close," he said.

Joren stopped and raised a hand.

"Wait."

The group halted immediately.

Joren tilted his head slightly, listening.

He stepped forward again, slower this time.

"Nothing," he said.

Bren frowned.

"That’s not normal."

"No," Darius said. "It isn’t."

They continued up the final stretch.

The smell hit them before the view opened.

Lira stopped for half a second, her nose tightening.

"What is that—"

They reached the base of the ridge.

And stopped.

The slope ahead was blackened.

Ash covered the ground in uneven patches. Fragments of rock and bone were scattered across the surface. Some areas still smoked faintly, thin trails rising into the air.

Joren stepped forward first.

His boot pressed into the ground, leaving a mark in the ash.

"...No way," he said under his breath.

Bren didn’t move at first.

Then he stepped up beside him.

His grip tightened slightly on the handle of his axe.

"It was as if a powerful magic had descended on this place."

"How could an E-rank...I mean C-rank do something like this..."