This ability was split into two types. One type was not reliant on reasoning or observation, merely reliant on sense to trigger awareness. The other type was awareness which was reliant on reasoning and observation accumulated from experience. The former can be described as a sixth sense internal feeling, and the latter can be described as one which was derived from the small changes in the surrounding— one derived from minute changes in sound and smell.
The latter would be naturally improved on the battlefield and during solo adventures, even if it were not intentionally trained. It was obtained through experiences by placing oneself in dangerous situations.
And ability-wise, this aspect of lizardmen was many times greater than that of humans. Biologically, their sensory organs were more sensitive, because they lived in harsher environments. Humans tended to live in safe places far from monsters, whereas lizardmen lived as neighbours to such monsters.
Zaryusu, who was a traveler and often travelled alone, was even more sensitive to slight changes in the environment.
Feeling tension filling the air, he opened his eyes.
Before him was a familiar room— although he had only stayed here for several days. Humans, even if they tried to, would not be able to make out details in this room which had no light source, but it was not that difficult for lizardmen.
There was nothing out of the ordinary in the room.
Zaryusu looked around, and after confirming that there were no strange objects, he gave a sigh of relief as he moved to sit upright.
He was an outstanding warrior, which was why even if he was sleeping moments ago, he was as awake as normal. There wasn’t an issue of drowsiness, as he was even energetic enough to immediately enter battle.
This was also related to the fact that lizardmen were habitually light sleepers.
However, Crusch who was sleeping beside Zaryusu showed no signs of waking up.
Having lost the body warmth of Zaryusu, Crush merely sleepily let out a dissatisfied soft murmur.
If it were under normal circumstances, Crusch would also sense the change in the air and wake up, however this time it seemed as if she had not noticed at all.
Zaryusu felt some regret, whether or not he had allowed Crusch to shoulder too much burden.
He recalled last night, and came to the opinion that the burden on Crusch was perhaps greater than his. During the operation of defeating the powerful opponent, the lich, the female Crusch seemed to have suffered a greater burden than the male Zaryusu.
He himself wished that he could allow her to continue sleeping, but after listening carefully, he could hear the frantic movements of many lizardmen beyond the house doors. At these times when various emergencies had already occurred, not waking her up would might be more dangerous.
“Crusch, Crusch.”
Zaryusu used a bit of force to shake Crusch several times.
“Mmm… Mmmm…”
Crusch curled her tail, then immediately revealed her red eyes.
“Mmm…?”
“It looks like something has happened.”
This phrase caused the drowsy Crusch to instantly widen her eyes. Zaryusu grabbed Frost Pain which was by his side and immediately stood up, and not long afterwards, Crusch was also out of bed.
The two of them walked outside and immediately understood the reason for the commotion.
They saw a large thick dark cloud covering the air above the village.
Looking to the distance, they could tell within a moment that the dark cloud was completely different to ordinary dark clouds. This was because it was a clear cloudless sky for miles around.
That also meant that this was—
“It’s… back?”
It was the enemy’s signal for another attack—
“Looks like it.”
Crusch agreed with this view. All of the lizardmen of the five tribes that had grouped together to fight could see the dark cloud in the middle of the sky, and were talking about it. However nobody had a look of fear on their faces.
That was because they were victorious under unfavourable circumstances in the previous battle, causing everyone to become more spirited.
The two of them ran towards the village, giving off a water splashing noise as they sprinted. They passed by several lizardmen who were commencing their battle preparations, and wasted no time in arriving at the main entrance.
There were many warrior class lizardmen already gathered at the main entrance, all of them cautiously prying outwards. Included amongst them was their familiar companion, one who had gone through hell and back with them, Zenberu, and beside him was the tribe chief of the Small Fang Tribe.
After Zenberu waved towards the two individuals who were generating large splashing noises as they came over, he immediately jutted his jaw towards the direction of outside the entrance.
Zaryusu and Crusch stood beside Zenberu and observed outwards from the main entrance.
On the other side of the shore, at the boundary between the wetlands and the forest, was an army composed of skeletons.
“So they have come again.”
“Huh…”
Zaryusu responded to Zenberu, then clicked his tongue.
This was anticipated, except it had arrived too soon. At first he reckoned that since their losses were so severe, they would require some time to replenish their troops, and had not considered having completely miscalculated. Apparently, the opponent was capable of once again marshalling units for a large army.
“… However, these skeletons should be weaker than those summoned by the lich.”
These words had a hidden meaning. What Zenberu meant was that he believed that the current skeleton army was in fact stronger than the one which invaded before.
Zaryusu also observed intently at the skeletons arranged on the shore of the other side. This was to size up the opponent’s strength, to then carry out the appropriate defensive actions.
Indeed, they were all skeletons, but the ones this time were different from the previous ones.
For outward appearances, the biggest difference was their equipment. The skeletons from before were only equipped with rusty swords, but the skeletons this time were quite well equipped. Furthermore, their physique seemed better than the ones from last time. The skeletons seemed to have three different kinds of equipment.
The most numerous kind of skeleton wore elaborate breastplates. In one hand they held triangular-shaped shields, kite shields, and in the other hand they held all sorts of weapons. They even carried quivers and compound bows on their backs. These were skeletons which were equipped to be both offensive and defensive, with capabilities to fight at both long and short distances.
Next were helmeted skeletons which wore identical breastplates, draped in tattered red cloaks, holding bucklers and bastard swords.
Finally, and the fewest in number, were the skeletons which were fully equipped. They wore beautiful shining golden full body armour, and held lustrous spears in their hands. Their dazzling fresh red cloaks had not a speck of dirt on them.
Zaryusu observed this much, and discovered a particular fact. He couldn’t help but doubt if he had seen incorrectly, and rubbed his eyes several times. However that remained a reality.
“Eh… that can’t be…”
“H-How is that possible…”
At the same time as Crusch’s exclamation, Zaryusu who had discovered the same fact involuntarily spoke out in a pained low voice. This time, Zenberu replied:
“… Oh, you realised it too.”
Zenberu’s voice was also extremely pained.
“Mmm…”
Zaryusu was done with speaking, and remained silent. He did not wish to speak, because once words came out, he would be terrified. Yet it was impossible to remain silent: