Ssarok

The carriage shook as Azura drove it across the Red Plateau, Shiro, Geraltavin, and Johnaquil colliding with each other with every bounce.

Another explosion sounded from somewhere deeper in the city as they approached the front gates.

“Open the gates!”

The guards immediately let Azura inside and began reporting what little they knew once the carriage had passed through the outer walls.

They don't know? It did just happen, and it's not like there are phones or anything...

Are there message spells? Maybe. But building some sort of communication device should definitely be a priority.

The carriage door opened.

“I’m going to ride on horseback to the threat. You three will be taken back to the Royal Palace. You’ll be safe there.”

“What are we under attack by?”

“Don’t know yet.”

“Do you want help?”

“You’re not qualified for battle. Your job is getting to safety before anything bad happens.”

Another explosion shook the city. This one was closer.

Azura slammed the carriage door before Shiro could reply. One of the guards was already at the reins, and at Azura's orders, started leading the carriage toward the Royal Palace.

Geraltavin leaned forward and looked out his window.

“That came from the eastern district.”

Johnaquil nodded.

“Which means they are moving to our outer defenses.

"An escape? Robbery?"

"Gris may be involved, which means it is not likely mere coin."

Shiro looked between them.

“Demons?"

“No. Why would they be in the city trying to get out?"

A cold feeling settled in Shiro's stomach as the carriage passed through the city streets.

Chaos was erupting around them. Soldiers flooded the streets, moving toward the explosion in groups. While Civilians pushed in the opposite direction, desperately trying to get away from the unknown danger.

Shiro looked down at the bag beside him. Full of ready to use aluminum bolts and capacitors for the light rail cannon.

"Aye, don't be stupid. It may be powerful, but it won't last long. Not to mention it's a ranged weapon in city streets."

“What if I can help?”

“You can, but not as a fighter."

“How do you know? I know this weapon better than anyone."

“Because I've spent my entire life working with tools, and I know exactly what people can and cannot do.”

"Seems like a stretch."

"It's the blunt of it. Yer'a fragile tool built to forge weapons. Sure you got the edge, could get a few stabs, but one bad twist and you're done."

"What about you guards? They don't all have talents."

"They don't. They also can't do what you do."

Shiro learned back into his chair. He didn't want to admit it, but he knew Geraltavin was right.

“Geraltavin’s tool analogy aside, whether it’s altruism, glory, or simple human nature, your desires are right. Should you wish to achieve them, you shouldn’t try to force yourself into a role simply because there’s a chance you can help. Know what you’re capable of, and make the most of it. There’s more than one way to be useful.”

“Yes, yes. I get it. You guys are right. Putting an engineer into direct fire is a horrible idea.”

“Good of ya to use reason.”

“I would like to add that there are many other ways to earn glory, wealth, influence, admiration, and so forth.”

Shiro looked back down at the light rail cannon.

I shouldn't be trying to play the Isekai Hero. My battle isn't here. My battle is with Revorgress.

The carriage came to a sudden stop, swerved violently, and threw Shiro against the side wall.

“What happened?!”

From outside came the frantic clatter of metal against metal, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps fading into the distance.

“...Did he just run?”

“Seems like it. Well, my Lightning Affinity ain’t the strongest of Talents, but I guess it’ll have to do.”

Geraltavin got up and without another word, left the carriage.

Guess my battle is here after all.

Shiro loaded a bolt and two capacitors into the light rail cannon.

“Not sure what use I’ll be to the two of you, but it would appear your time for glory has come..."

Johnaquil threw the bag of parts for the light rail cannon over his shoulder.

“...Let me know what you need. Shall we?”

The two got up and left the carriage as well.

I knew it.

The carriage sat abandoned in the center of the four way intersection. Smoke drifted between the buildings, carrying the distant sounds of shouting and battle.

Three figures encircled them from the empty roads. One approached from the right road. Another came from the left. The third walked straight toward them from the road ahead.

Demons.

From what Shiro knew of the eight demon subraces, he could tell immediately that this was a Ssarok. A grotesque humanoid fusion of reptilian and amphibian creatures.

Their torsos were encased in massive, turtle like shells, thick and heavily armored. Muscular reptilian arms protruded from their sides, each finger ending in a sharp, curved claw. Beneath their shells were enormous, frog like legs, their powerful limbs covered in the same overlapping scales. An armored, crocodilian tail dragged behind them, completing their monstrous silhouette.

From the tops of their shells rose impossibly long, serpentine necks, stretching the length of the rest of their bodies. Their heads narrowed into elongated, crocodilian snouts lined with rows of jagged fangs, while forked tongues flickered between their teeth. Golden, serpentine eyes sat from atop their skulls, framed by wide, frilled flaps of skin that spread from either side of their necks.

They look more like chimeras than something naturally occuring...

The Demon from the road ahead stabbed one of Talon edges swords into the ground and pulled out a sheet of parchment. Its eyes looked between it and Shiro.

"Why do I have the feeling that it's a drawing of me?"

Shiro activated the lightning runes of the two capacitors loaded in the light rail cannon.

"Ssssseize him!"