“Monsters, what do you mean?”

“We shouldn’t have cut Sipula flowers. It was a mistake.”

Brisben falls to his knees and shakes his head in denial. Tears were running down his froggy face as I get him to clearly explain the situation. He drags me outside and points towards the fog wall. In that one particular spot, it wasn’t as hazy as the rest. I was able to see the faint figure of those giant flowers in the fog and insects were coming from the crack in the wall. These were insects that were as large as a human head so if left alone, they can be a dangerous problem.

“Rachel, CZ, and Ken crush your mana crystals and get your gear. We need to defend the village. Brisben, go and gather the villagers on top of the hill where the dungeon is.”

The situation still hasn’t gotten out of hand but as we rush down the hill, I can see a pack of hundred-eyed dogs appearing from the fog. They roamed the outskirts where the farmlands are at, and luckily the villagers should be coming back for the night. Although it’s good that the farmers would be safe, that’s only short-term. Once the sun sets, it’s going to become hard to fight these monsters lurking in the darkness. We have to evacuate the villagers as soon as possible.

“Everyone head towards the top of the hill!!”

The five of us scream and warn the villagers, but the villagers were confused at our panic. A large moth flies down from the sky and tries to grab a villager, but I quickly cut it down. More insects continue to attack and the villagers finally understand our panic.

“Rachel, CZ, and Ken, evacuate the villagers and I’ll go warn Unit I of the situation.”

“Ok”

“Stay safe.”

“...we’ll protect them.”

We go our separate ways as I continue to kill the insects trying to attack the villagers. Using blood magic, I copy Kurulu and create 3 flying discs that can attack the flying insects. They were an odd color because these insects’ blood had poison mixed with it. It might have been more difficult if it was a few days ago, but I’ve learned how to handle poison through first-hand experience.

The discs slice through many bodies but it just doesn’t end, there are too many insects. More blood accumulates and I was able to create 5 discs, but that was my limit. Any more and my control becomes sloppy.

“Get away!!”

Three large insects rush towards the old man who had fallen over but I wasn’t fast enough. My blood discs were sent out to help others so my only choice was to throw Kurulu. I run and with my arm cocked back I was about to throw Kurulu, but a pink object wraps around the insects. It moved so fast that I was barely able to see it.

That pink object was a frogman’s tongue. He chews the insects up as he helps the elderly human man up. Looking around, all the insects were falling victim to the frogmen’s tongue. I forgot but insects are prey to a frog.

“Are you ok? Aren’t the insects poisonous?”

“Heh, we frogmen have even stronger poison.”

I chuckle lightly at the frogman’s remark as I order all the villagers to gather in groups. The human villagers would stay inside with the frogmen as the outer ring. Their initial panic was gone and they all begin to evacuate to the warehouse on top of the hill. Although it was also the entrance to the dungeon, it was the safest place to escape from the monsters. The situation had improved so I take the chance to barge in the conference room where Kayla was holding a meeting. The meeting was going on as normal and they didn’t realize the predicament the village was in.

“What’s all the commotion, Jude?”

“There are monsters invading the village.”

“What!? How?”

I explain to Kayla how cutting down the Sipula flower had weakened the fog enough for monsters to invade. Guilt flashes through her eyes as she realizes that her plan was going to put the villagers in danger. Although this plan was agreed upon by multiple people, in the end, it was her decision that is putting the villagers at risk, but she doesn’t let the guilt cloud her mind. Her eyes shined with determination as she gives out orders to the members of Unit I.

The members prepared to leave the room to go grab their equipment but one of the walls suddenly comes crashing down. Dust fills the room but Mako blows it away as a monster’s figure reveals itself. It was an 8 feet tall brown bear with a horn protruding from its head. Panic fills the room as the bear charges towards the weaponless members.

Its claw was on the verge of piercing through one of them but it pulls back as my discs intercept him. All 5 of them were concentrated on injuring the bear but it was agile and could dodge them. His horn shines a bright blue light before a wave of energy is sent flying towards me. I use the discs to block them but they all shatter under the force of the blue wave.

“Don’t be afraid, cut through it.”

Following Kurulu’s instruction, the spear clashes with the blue wave and slices it in half. The bear was slightly dazed from releasing the blue wave, and I wasn’t going to miss this chance. I charge in as the bear tries to swipe its claws at me, but it was too slow. The lizardman in the swamp was 10 times faster than him. I slice his hand off before twirling the spear to hit his snout which causes him to roar in pain. His mouth was wide open and with all my strength I jam the spear through his mouth.

“I-I can’t believe he killed it.”

“Even Yun wasn’t able to kill it that easily. His body was filled with injuries when he brought the bear’s horn the other day.”

“What are you all watching!? Go get your gear and prepare to defend the village. If the village falls tonight then we go down with it.”

They rush out of the room and the only ones left from Unit I was Kayla. She didn’t waste any time as we begin discussing how we’re going to deal with the monsters. The situation was still fine because none of the truly dangerous monsters have come through the fog. The horned-bear or even the six-legged hippos aren’t the true monsters of the swamp. If monsters like that lizardman make it into the village then the situation becomes hopeless.

“Do you think we can seal the hole, Fifi.”

“I don’t know about sealing it, but Jill and I can try to fill the hole up with dirt.”

“Wait, Jill and Gorou! Where are they?”

Those two aren’t weak but they currently don’t have their weapons with them. Understanding my concerns, Kayla gives us permission to go find them. Members of Unit I come back fully geared as we leave the building. We need to grab Gorou, Jill, and William’s equipment if we wanted to fight the monsters at our full potential. 

And there was another concern on my mind as we enter the hospital-like building. The lounge room was a mess and there was blood here and there, but no bodies. There were still some people evacuating and Unit I was doing there job to protect them. Rushing upstairs we finally arrive on the floor Unit K members were staying on. Glass shatters and the screams of women and children echos through the floor.

“Go, Jude! Gareth and I will grab our equipment.”

Mako and I rush through the floor until we saw Ruka and some other men fighting off a giant praying mantis. It swings one of its sickle-like claws and one of the frogmen protecting the room has his right arm cut off. It goes for the kill but is interrupted by my discs. Mako uses wind magic to gather up the smaller insects and crushes them as I charge the giant praying mantis.

My discs were sliced apart by the mantis’ sickles and it continues its attack, but this time I made it. I cut off one of its sickles and urge the others to get inside of the room.

“We’ll help!”

“Just get inside, you’ll just be a nuisance!”

It might be harsh but I didn’t have time to protect while fighting the mantis. Not letting them run away, I block the mantis’ attack that was aimed for them, but this time turns out differently. Two more sickles appear from his back and pulls the spear out of my grasp. I quickly bend my body as one of his sickles nearly cuts me in half. Green blood gathers around my hand as I prepare to use blood magic. 

“Crush my opponent. Giant’s hand.”

All the blood I gathered transforms into a hand the size of my body. The mantis attacks to try and disperse the blood but there was too much. His body falls into the hands grasp and with a squeeze, his body crumples. The shape of the hand disappears and I reshape them into blood discs as I pick up Kurulu.

“Hmph, how dare you use me as bait.”

“Sorry, Kurulu.”

I apologize and her mood gets better as she drains the mantis’ blood. I open the door to the room and Fifi was healing the injured. The man who’s arm was quickly reattached by her healing magic. It wasn’t only him, other villagers had come here to help evacuate the disabled villagers.

“What’s going on, Jude!? Are we in danger?”

“Yes, but don’t worry, I’ll protect all of you.”

I reassure Ruka and the others as Mako enters with the lizardman king’s ax. Gorou and Wiliam soon follow with Gul’Sa Quan’s greatsword and Jill’s wand. I can tell William was struggling to carry the greatsword while Mako looks kind of happy.

“Jude, do you think I can use this?”

“Sure, go ahead.”

All of us were ready so we left the room. We were currently on the fourth floor so we looked around for any other survivors as we went down. Most of the people were already evacuated and by the time we reached the bottom floor, we regrouped with members from Unit I. They were screaming at the villagers because they were annoyed at their inability to get organized.

“God, a bunch of fucking idiots. Just shut up and get in a single file line.”

“But I need to find my sister!”

“She’s probably dead already so stop your whining.”

Even in such a dire situation, members from Unit I didn’t know how cooperate with the villagers. William pats my shoulder to calm me down as he goes over to talk with them.

“You guys go ahead and hunt those monsters. We’ll escort the villagers.”

“Good, we’ll leave them to you. Come on boys, let’s see who can hunt the biggest monsters!!”

“YEAH!!!”

Without any hesitation, they rush outside and begin killing monsters. William and I quickly calm the villagers down as we also head outside. Although I didn’t like those guys from Unit I, they at least did a good job of clearing the path for us. Dead bodies of monsters strewn the path and we only encountered a few monsters.

“Watch out!”

A hundred-eyed dog had appeared behind us without us noticing. It was aiming for the villagers who were straying from the group. With the swing of the ax, Mako sends the dog flying into the sky. Flying insects and bat-like creatures attacked as soon as they noticed our presence, but Mako throws the ax into the air. Blood rains down on us as they were all shredded into pieces. Like a boomerang, the ax flies back and Mako catches it with ease. I’m surprised at how fast Mako had gotten used to using the ax. It was just a few minutes ago that Fifi explained to her the special effects of the ax.

It didn’t take long for us to reach the warehouse. There were other villagers around trying to rush into safety but a golden lizard the size of a car appears from some shrubbery. Before I could even rush to deal with it, a light shines in the darkness, and the golden lizard was dead. Kayla swings her lance and the blood comes off of it. She had killed the golden lizard with one hit.

“Everyone calm down, there’s no need to rush. Calmly enter one at a time and if any monsters come, I swear I’ll protect each and everyone one of you until my last breath.”

The crowd calms down at Kayla’s proclamation. Unlike the other members of Unit I, the villagers trusted her. Looking through the crowd, I was able to find Ken, Rachel, and CZ, they had slight injuries but Fifi healed them as we regrouped.

“Are there more villagers in the town?”

“Not in the general vicinity but there should still be villagers stuck on the outskirts.”

“Wait, did you guys see Jill or Gorou?”

“No.”

I interrupted William’s conversation with Ken in hopes of finding Gorou and Jill’s whereabouts but it seemed like they also had no clue. I know those two won’t easily die from some regular monsters but I still couldn’t help worrying about their safety. William assigns the three of them to protect the villagers as we prepared to go search the outskirts, but a commotion arises from the frogmen.

“G-GORANGO!!!!”

“Gorango! Gorango!!!”

The frogmen begin shouting and we couldn’t help but look at what they were pointing at. Coming through the fog was a ginormous creature, it was 20 feet tall and 40 feet long. Rows of sharp teeth reveal themselves as it roars into the sky. A piercing sound echoes throughout the entire town, and even from this distance the villager couldn’t help but scream at the pain in their ears.

“I-is that a T-rex!?”

“Haah, what’s with all the big monsters we’ve been fighting so lately?”

I agree with Mako’s statement. There’s been Gul’sa Quan, lizardman king, the Rat King, and that lizardman in the swamp, and now this T-rex. From Ugoo’s explanation, I really thought Gorango would look more like an alligator but it’s definitely a dinosaur.

Like how Gul’sa Quan wasn’t a regular lizard, this T-rex wasn’t the kind you would expect to find in a paleontology book. Its arms were not tiny, in fact it was the opposite. His hind legs were skinny like they were used for jumping while his arms made up 50% of the mass in its body. 

There was only one thing we can do in this kind of situation, and that’s to fight. Looking at William and Kayla, they were both in agreement. Some members of Unit I was left behind to protect the villagers while the rest of us charged towards the T-rex’s location. It was going to be a rough battle.