There was nothing wrong with Matlock’s reaction. If anything, it wasmpletely justified. The harsh reality of their situation was undeniable—death was certain. There was no hope, no margin for escape. They were six in number, stranded in an uncharted zone, surrounded on all sides by forces far beyond their ability to resist. To one side lay a dead zone filled with ancient and eldritch horrors. In another direction loomed the nest of Ashergon, a dragon known for leveling entire cities, guarded by an army of powerful subordinates. The third path was blocked by a mana anomaly, a gravity wall that crushed all who approached it. And as if fate wished to mock them further, the last possible route was infested with an advancing army of demons, boxed in with them. There was no escape. Perhaps it would be better to make their peace with the goddess and accept the inevitable. Damon watched them in silence. Matlock was already sobbing untrollably, tears running down his face. The sight of it irritated Damon. A small part of him felt the urge to silence the delicate boy, to end his pathetic crying right then and there. But he dismissed the thought. Unlike him, Matlock hadn’t spent his life in dire situations. He wasn’t used to having the worldnstantly try to kill him. Damon drew his dagger, itsld steel glinting in the sun light. The half-dead goblin sneered at their fear, jeering weakly through its pain. Damon walked over and kicked it violently, forcing it to the ground. "If the demon army catches us, Xander and I might at least get a quick, merciful death—ripped apart and slaughtered." His gaze shifted to the three girls. "But the three of you… you won’t be so lucky." The air grew eerily still. "I imagine you’d bme playthings for whatever creatures got their hands on you. If you’re fortunate, you might end up as a demon kin’s toy instead of some mindless beast’s." The girls trembled. Their faces went pale. Damonntinued, his voice void of emotion. "A quick and dignified death would be a distant dream. You’d pray for it, but it wouldn’tme. Maybe after a few rounds with a troll or a hobgoblin, you’d finally be granted mercy." Xander narrowed his eyes at Damon’s words. Evangeline bit her lip. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶 "I... I—we can try negotiating with the demons. I mean, the goddess races have a truce with them at the moment, and most of us here are high nobles..." Damon smiled. He knew it wouldme down to this. He didn’t even want tonsider that option, so he had to make them see things his way. "You’rerrect, but... we’re all trapped here. So are they. Do you really think they’d care about some captives, even if they have huge tits? Wake up and smell the roses, Evangeline. Your status means nothing here." Sylvia lowered her head. "But we can still negotiate..." Damon nodded. "Weuld, but historically—and factually—negotiations only happen between equals. Even in war, no one wants to negotiate until blows are traded." He walked up to the elven girl, his dark eyes locked onto hers. "Do you know what happens when we trade blows with them?" She nodded slowly, biting her lip. Damon looked at herldly. "Say it." Her voice was barely a whisper. "We... we get killed." He smirked, lifting her chin. "We get killed," he repeated, his voice ringing out louder this time. Xander bit his lip. He looked at Matlock, who was trembling as Damon spoke. "We still have other options..." Damon nodded. "No, we have only one. But fine, let’s explore the next option." "The next option is right there." He pointed toward the distant mountains—the nest of the dragon Ashergon. Even from here, the sheer aura of death that radiated from it sent shivers down his spine. "Our next option is quite good, actually. Personally, I’d prefer a fiery death. Or maybe getting ripped to pieces by fangs and claws. At least that way, you keep your dignity." Damon walked up to Xander, his gazeld and unwavering. "We would never make it past the army of drakes and wyverns that killed most of the demon army. But go ahead. Be my guest." Xander gritted his teeth. His fists clenched. Then, with a growl, he shoved Damon back, his hands trembling. "All you’re doing is telling us how badly we’ll die. You’re not actually doing anything!" Damon ignored him. He turned his attention to Matlock, who was still shivering on the ground. Reaching down, he grabbed the boy by thellar and lifted him up with ease. "You will definitely die with that attitude. But don’t worry—after we return, I’ll make you a nice grave and give the academy a decent report." Matlock trembled, snot dripping from his nose. "H-How can you say that...? D-Do you have a way out?" Damon smiled. This Matlock fellow was quite useful—he had asked the question Damon wanted them all to ask. This was a simple psychological trick. If you wanted people to do something, you first suggested something worse. Then, you offered an alternative that seemed much more agreeable—even if it was still terrible. And they would accept, believing they had made the better choice. "As a matter of fact, I do." Matlock’s eyes widened. He wasn’t the only one surprised by Damon’s words. Leona, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up. "You have a way out?" Damon nodded. He had thought through all the options. The option of surrendering to the demon army was too risky. He was ammoner with no status, so even in the slim chance the demons agreed, a nobody like him wouldn’t be important enough for political negotiations. And besides, what he said was technically true—the demons would just kill them. The snd option was the dragon’s nest. And honestly, why would they march straight into the lair of a dragon known to destroy cities on a whim? Even if they tried, they would never reach it before the drakes and wyverns tore them apart. At least it would be swift. That left only one option—the unknown. Damon turned toward Leona and then toward the dark expanse of the Whispering Forest. Even from here, heuld feel theld sensation of dread creeping in. A fate worse than death awaited them there. But in the unknown, there was life. "Yes, I do." He pointed toward the Whispering Forest. "We walk the unknown. We take on the Whispering Forest. We brave the Path of Kings."