I Was a Loner, but My Class Got Summoned to Another World…

The next battlegrounds had already been marked.

The first was a camp known for crystal mining—an ideal target against the demons, who lacked the ability to use magic on their own.

Without crystals, the coming battles would be far easier for Roland and his troops. He was even eyeing the crystals himself, since he could still imbue them with his own magic—though now limited to light-based attacks.

Still, he could distribute these crystals among his core members, including Stella, to use in emergencies. It was like giving them direct access to his own magic.

They attacked swiftly and without mercy, catching both the miners—who were human—and the demons off guard. The strike was carried out during a night raid aimed at precision and perfection.

Demons, like humans, needed sleep. That was when they struck.

Roland arrived while shining like the sun, unbothered by the darkness as he assaulted their camp without hesitation.

Barriers and wards meant nothing to Elios, a master of wards himself. The spirit didn't leave everything to his contractor and worked actively with Roland to dismantle anything that might alert the enemy.

Their assault was quick and devastating. The slaves were freed, and the mine was secured within hours—an ideal outcome for their first move.

But that wouldn't be the only battle of the day.

Roland was informed by Renar—the architect behind most of their strategies—that once the camp was taken, two nearby fortified settlements would likely send reinforcements to reclaim it.

Their only chance was to strike first and capture one of those strongholds before both could combine their forces.

That was where they were now—hiding near a forest. Roland, Stella, Renar, and ten others—the elite, the best of the core unit—had gathered. Their mission: infiltrate the fortress and cause enough destruction to open the way for the rest of the army.

They needed to get inside and keep the gates open long enough for the main army to enter.

"What do you think, Renar? Can Doblin make the tunnel underground?"

Renar inspected the large fortified structure using a magical sight enhancer—a small tool provided by the king, likely taken from the treasury before his kingdom fell.

"I don't think so, Roland. The walls look too thick. We might have to use your stealth trick against the barriers and hope Namar's illusions can at least get us close to the gates. Then we'll find a way to create a distraction to open them."

Roland studied the walls, made of layered stone and earth—probably one of the finest fortresses Elris had ever produced in its prime. Now, like so much else, it had fallen into demon hands.

It would make a stronghold worthy of reclaiming and an ideal place for humans to settle, especially since it was close to the Light Spirit's forest.

They would no doubt expand the green fields here soon from the forest with enough time after they conquered it.

"Stella, what do you think…"

He trusted Renar, but he never wanted Stella to think she was only there for her warding magic.

"He's right. My brother always said to go with the simplest plan first. If that doesn't work, then we fall back to a backup."

Roland nodded. He wasn't much of a strategist—he acted. His skills so far had allowed him that freedom.

"All right. No more talk. Let's go."

The group descended, piercing through layers of wards and barriers until they reached the large gate. There, Roland had Namar create an illusion of a prisoner walking aimlessly.

They kept it simple—and sometimes, that worked best.

One of the demon guards spotted the illusion and opened a small door beside the main gate, calling out to the figure.

"Hey! What are you doing out here, worker? Did your dumb human brain forget to stay with the group? Good thing we trained you well—you came back like the dog we raised. Get inside for your punishment."

The demon grinned, pulling out a whip, clearly eager for a bit of fun.

The illusion held its position, the image of a lost, dazed man lingering just outside the gate.

"I said get over here!"

The demon grabbed a nearby torch and marched forward. The team remained alert, more focused on other potential threats than the lone guard who had exited the fort.

As they followed behind, they noticed the demon's partner asleep just a few meters away—completely unaware.

Roland motioned to one of his core team members—Stephon, their assassin, and an expert in these situations.

The demon never saw it coming.

He died in complete silence, his body vanishing as if a giant hand had emerged from the ground and swallowed him whole. No trace remained—not a drop of blood or a broken limb.

Even the team shuddered slightly at the assassin's efficiency, but they moved on without hesitation.

The next target was the sleeping companion.

He, too, was dealt with quickly and cleanly by Stephon.

With both guards gone, the group split up. Roland stayed with Stella while the others paired off to begin their sweep. A few remained near the gate, prepared to open it and send the signal for the main army to advance.

Roland and Stella's mission was clear: locate the source of the warding magic. The power feeding the fortress's barriers would emit a visible beam into the sky, marking its location. Once found, they would either destroy the mages responsible or break the crystals powering it.

But Roland had a suspicion.

If the ward casters were humans forced into service, then a conversation might suffice—and the crystals could be preserved for their own use.

They entered the central courtyard of the fortress where the barriers were being conjured.

As expected, a pillar of energy reached toward the sky. Around it, twenty demons stood watch—lazily positioned and clearly not expecting trouble.

And just as Roland had predicted, there were forty humans supporting the spell. Each looked utterly drained, barely able to remain standing as they clutched their crystals to sustain the magic.

"As soon as I attack and kill the demons, have those people stop casting the barriers. Heal them and offer help—hopefully they'll recognize who we are and decide to join us."

Roland tapped Stella's shoulder.

She looked visibly shaken from seeing humans forced into betraying their own. She also knew they were likely being blackmailed—family held captive somewhere in the fort. She silently vowed to help them.

Stella nodded at Roland's words and placed a hand over his.

"Be careful. I'll be watching, and if anything goes wrong, I'll come running. Alright?"

Roland gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze, then rushed forward. With a few radiant slashes, he killed four demons before the others could react. Shouts rang out as the remaining guards scrambled to respond. The enslaved humans, too busy chanting, broke their concentration and tried to flee as Roland fought.

Stella stepped in behind him, casting a ward that soothed the terrified humans. A calming aura washed over them, clearing their minds and gently healing their exhaustion. One by one, they turned toward her—drawn like moths to a flame.

They began to realize what was happening just as Roland finished off the last of the guards.

"Nice work, Stella. Good timing—I didn't expect them to bolt like that."

Roland rubbed the back of his head, then began channeling healing magic into the weakened casters.

"I know you were drugged and forced to maintain those barriers just minutes ago, but you're safe now. Help me and my team, and we'll take this fortress within hours. We'll kill every demon here—and rescue anyone you care about."

Some of the casters nodded immediately. Others wept—but in the end, they all agreed.

Outside, the demons began to mobilize, charging toward Roland—unaware that, without the barrier, a thousand-strong army was breaching the gate.

Roland stepped forward, blades ready.

Stella and the newly freed mages raised protective wards, keeping the number of attackers manageable.

That was all he needed.

Fifteen demons rushed him at once—and were cut down just as quickly.

Then he did it again. And again.

Within minutes, Roland had already dealt with hundreds, using the barriers to isolate and strike.

The demons, trapped within the casters' wards, could neither escape nor call for help.

Desperation drove them to throw everything they had at the hero—hoping to kill him before he wiped them out.

But it was futile.

Even the army did little in the end; they couldn't enter the barriers either. Their task had been different from the start: locate prisoners, free any hostages, and secure the rest of the fortress.

By morning, no demons remained.

They had all been buried—crushed beneath the ground by Doblin, the finest geomancer in Roland's army.

"We did it," Renar said, his voice steady but proud. "Two major bases taken in less than a day. If we keep this up, we'll have Elris back within a month."

He stood alongside Roland and Stella atop the fortress wall, all three gazing out toward the Light Spirit's forest.

Word had already been sent to Stella's father about the success at both the mine and the fortress. Now, plans were being drawn up to strike the next target within hours.

"Yes, this is a strong start," Stella replied. "Now we need to increase our numbers… and prepare for retaliation. The demons won't let this go unanswered. They'll send a powerful force soon."

Roland turned toward the horizon—the red-stained sky still looming in the distance. There was no doubt they were still at the starting line.