The episode 10 of The World's Strongest Rearguard starts with rumors spreading about a Named monster appearing inside the Shrieking Wood, the labyrinth where the promotion exam is taking place. The creature has become such a serious threat that other Seekers are considering staying away from the area altogether. Arihito and his party, however, have a more personal reason to enter. Georg's party, Polaris, went into the labyrinth before them and has not returned.
Arihito learns that Georg is currently trapped inside and immediately decides that they cannot simply ignore him. The danger is obvious, especially with a Named monster involved, but Arihito's role as the party's rear guard makes him particularly suited to assessing risks and protecting the group. While the others prepare to move forward, Madoka helps in the only way she can. She provides an appraisal scroll and a valuable potion, explaining that potions are expensive in the district and that she normally keeps one for emergencies.
Madoka's growing importance to the party also becomes clear during this preparation. She manages their items and handles practical responsibilities that keep the group functioning. The others recognize how dependable she has become, even as she modestly brushes off the praise. With Madoka staying behind to support them through her Merchant skills, Arihito's group heads into the Shrieking Wood.
Meanwhile, the episode briefly shifts away from the dangerous labyrinth to Rikerton's Dissection Center, where Melissa is working on new equipment. Arihito's party has provided materials that she is modifying with her Modify Equipment skill. Her latest project is a stealth suit created with a camouflage stone. The suit can make its wearer invisible, giving the equipment enormous potential for exploration and combat.
There is one embarrassing problem, however. When the invisibility effect ends, the wearer briefly appears without clothing. Melissa explains that the suit is therefore not finished yet and needs additional work before it can safely be handed over. The equipment discussion gradually turns into something more personal. Melissa invites Madoka out for some time away from work, giving both women a chance to relax and talk. Their conversation reveals that Melissa has spent much of her life isolated. Her mother is a cat demi-human while her father is human, and because of that mixed heritage, many people have treated her with fear.
Madoka does not react negatively. Instead, she treats Melissa normally and even reassures her that she considers her cute. That simple acceptance clearly means a lot to Melissa. She admits that she rarely gets to spend time with people her own age and asks Madoka to invite her out again. Madoka happily agrees.
The scene also shows how much Arihito's party has changed the people around it. Melissa's usual routine revolves almost entirely around her dissection work, yet she has now found someone with whom she can simply enjoy herself. Even Ferris notices the difference, surprised that Melissa has actually gone out to eat instead of simply continuing to work. Arihito's influence is once again felt indirectly through the connections his party has created.
Back inside the Shrieking Wood, Arihito's group begins fighting ordinary monsters while continuing deeper into the labyrinth. A Fear Treant and several Dirty Mushrooms become their immediate targets. The battle gives Arihito a chance to test the power of a new rune technique, Force Shot. The attack proves extremely powerful, but its high magical cost becomes obvious almost immediately.
The fight becomes more dangerous when one of the Dirty Mushrooms activates a physical counter called Confusion Spore. Theresia is hit by the effect and suddenly begins seeing her own companions as enemies. Her confusion creates a dangerous situation because she could attack the people she is trying to protect.
Fortunately, Suzuna is able to respond. She keeps her distance and uses ranged attacks while the others avoid escalating the situation. Suzuna then uses her newly acquired Wash Away skill, which can use water to nullify certain status effects. The technique successfully removes Theresia's confusion.
Theresia is deeply upset by what happened. Her strong sense of responsibility makes the incident particularly painful because she feels that she endangered everyone. Arihito understands that simply comforting her could make things worse, so the party allows her time to recover instead of forcing her to move on immediately.
The mood lightens when the group examines a rare drop from the Fear Treant. Using Madoka's appraisal scroll, they discover an Apple of Wit, a rare item that permanently raises maximum magical power when eaten. Since Arihito's powerful Force Shot consumes a significant amount of magic, the group agrees that he should probably use it.
Theresia, however, appears interested in the apple. Rather than simply taking it for herself, she carefully peels it and offers it to Arihito. The small gesture helps show that she has recovered from the earlier incident and is once again focused on supporting the group. It is also a quiet character moment that highlights how much she values her companions.
Then Cion suddenly becomes interested in something nearby. Instead of continuing forward, the creature begins searching the area, prompting the others to follow. Their decision pays off when they discover someone lying deeper inside the labyrinth. It is Georg. Arihito immediately gives him a potion and helps him regain consciousness. Georg is confused and struggles to remember what happened. As his memories return, the truth about Polaris's disastrous encounter begins to emerge.
Georg explains that his party was moving through the labyrinth when a strange monster suddenly attacked them. The creature seemed to emerge from the ground like grass, catching them completely off guard. His companions—Sophie, Mihail, Jake, and Tyler—were overwhelmed. Georg used his magic, including Thunder Wave, but his magical reserves were eventually exhausted.
The situation became so desperate that his party ordered him to leave and find help. Georg hated the idea of abandoning his companions, but he understood that escaping was necessary if he wanted any chance of saving them. Arihito reassures him that leaving was not cowardice. Georg's job was to survive and bring back help, and Arihito's group is now prepared to continue the rescue.
After Georg leaves the labyrinth, Arihito's party keeps moving through the Shrieking Wood. They eventually encounter a young woman who claims to be Sophie, one of the missing members of Polaris. At first, the situation seems strangely peaceful. Sophie tells them that her companions are resting nearby and even offers to show them where they are.
Her behavior quickly becomes suspicious. Sophie claims that nothing dangerous happened and says the group should help carry items dropped by a monster they supposedly defeated. Arihito and the others initially listen, but Elitia suddenly reacts to an attack from Sophie. That reaction reveals that something is terribly wrong.
Arihito notices a detail that exposes the deception: the weapons belonging to the supposed survivors are broken and damaged, yet Sophie is casually discussing treasure and monster drops. A genuine Seeker would not behave so casually after surviving a serious battle while leaving their damaged weapons in such a state. The truth finally emerges. Sophie is being controlled.
A Named monster called the Vine Puppeteer has parasitized her body and is using her as a puppet. The creature reveals itself as a Level 5 Named monster, turning what appeared to be a rescue mission into an ambush. The battle immediately becomes chaotic. The Vine Puppeteer does not simply attack directly. Instead, it uses other Seekers as tools, forcing Arihito's party to fight humans who are being controlled against their will.
Cion manages to interfere with the monster's attack, giving Arihito and the others a moment to react. But the danger escalates when more controlled Seekers appear. Their strength becomes difficult to manage because they attack without hesitation or concern for their own safety.
Arihito quickly realizes the central problem: fighting the controlled Seekers normally could mean killing people who are not acting of their own free will. The party therefore needs to find a way to neutralize the controlling monster rather than simply defeating its puppets.
The situation becomes even more complicated when one of the controlled fighters appears to have a magical class. Arihito recognizes that his own magical resources could run out before the enemy does. He uses defensive abilities such as Wall Guard while continuing to protect the others.
The party considers whether the controlling creature might be hiding nearby, perhaps underground in the same way as the strange cocoons they encountered earlier. Finding it would be the cleanest solution, but there is no time for a long search. The controlled Seekers continue attacking, and Suzuna cannot safely approach them because Arihito's defensive support may not be enough to protect her.
That leaves the group searching for another method. If Suzuna could get close enough, she might be able to heal the controlled Seekers. But reaching them safely is the problem. Arihito understands that they need something capable of nullifying the monster's control without putting Suzuna in unnecessary danger. Just as the party begins to consider that possibility, the Vine Puppeteer confidently declares that their efforts are useless. It then summons more creatures—Demi-Harpies—to reinforce the battlefield.
The confrontation is now far more dangerous than the promotion exam Arihito's party originally entered the Shrieking Wood to complete. What began as an attempt to rescue Georg and Polaris has exposed a Named monster capable of turning fellow Seekers into weapons, forcing Arihito to find a solution that protects both his own party and the victims under the creature's control.
The World's Strongest Rearguard Episode 10 delivers a strong mix of character development, exploration, and escalating danger. The episode gives Melissa and Madoka a surprisingly warm personal moment while also showing how Arihito's growing circle has helped Melissa overcome her isolation. Theresia's confusion incident adds tension and gives Suzuna a chance to demonstrate the usefulness of her new healing skill, while the discovery of the Apple of Wit provides a valuable reward. The real highlight, however, is the Shrieking Wood rescue mission, where Arihito's party discovers that the missing Polaris members have become puppets of the terrifying Level 5 Named monster, Vine Puppeteer. Rather than relying on brute force, Arihito must find a way to save the controlled Seekers without killing them, creating a difficult tactical problem that sets up an intense continuation.
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