(author's note: I did translation on Jp WN while also writing, you can read my translation on hemuhemucorner.blogspot.com. Also, I might not be able to post the next chapter next Sunday or Monday, but I will try to be on time with the a chapter/week seriously. Next chapter is chapter 2, back to the point of view of William)

Somewhere, within one of the Human Kingdom nearest to the Great Mountain Range of Himaseru. The kingdom which was dubbed as the youngest kingdom in human history, The Shyaraya Kingdom. Life was bustling.

Due to its geographical advantage of being at the nearest of the Great Mountain Range, the kingdom possessed a lot of empty lands waiting to be developed. Fertile, empty lands. There's also a river which split the kingdom's in half right on the middle. Although the kingdom doesn't have much of marine products, the empty lots the kingdom has had attracted many immigrants who wanted to help develops the lands and receive its boons. Then, the lands turned into farmlands, and lands to raise live stocks. In only 200 years since its foundation, the Kingdom of Shyaraya has become a paradise on earth where its people never died from hunger. The people whose stomach never starved, spent their spare energy which used to be only for putting foods on the dining table, on another matter. Technology and culture development.

Because the nutritions which their body demanded being sufficient, their mind and body becomes stronger than the people of another kingdoms whose diet was unbalance, the people of Shyaraya Kingdom sought knowledge. The more their knowledge grows, the more their technology and culture became more advanced. Architecture Technique became more advanced, precise, artistic, and faster to complete. High Agriculture Technique reduced the chance of crops failure, while increasing their quality and quantity by leaps and bounds compared to another kingdoms. Their technology has also became so advance to the point everyone who had tasted the convenient life they lived in the Shyaraya Kingdom to be unable to live inconvenient life of the other kingdoms. The technological gap between Shyaraya and the other human kingdoms were as if comparing the modern era with the medieval era. Naturally, Shyaraya's military might was also more advanced. If their military being compared to another kingdoms, there might not be much in quantity, but their quality surpassed all of them to the point where if all the kingdoms' combined might could only equal to Shyaraya. 

Shyaraya has two forces. One is the military who patrols the border and responded to dangerous situation such fighting monsters invading the kingdom's territory, or defending the kingdom from the foreign's forces, which never happened anymore since 80 years ago. The second one is the police force enforcing the laws that bind the kingdom's subjects.

This story begun within the military barracks' mess hall. Told from the point of view of one of the captain's, Laran Page the youngest of the captain's belonging to Shyaraya's army.

"How was it, Page? Something goin' on outside?"

The more senior Captain of the army, Ber Al, who already seated and was drinking ale, greeted Laran as he looked for a place to sit.

"Well, it's probably just the usual"

He continued.

"Actually, no. The monsters were rampaging as usual, but I had this feeling that their rampage this time was different."

Laran answered once he was seated infront of Ber Al.

"Different? What da ya mean by that?"

Looking intrigued, Ber Al put down his glass of ale.

"They were more aggressive than usual, but...instead of the aggressiveness which was usually used as their means of attacking us, by the time I defeated them I realised that their behaviour was as if it was the struggle of those who wanted to flee as soon as possible..."

With how serious the look on Laran was when he told that, Ber Al couldn't helped but began to put on a serious expression too, as if his mind begun to think of every possible scenario of what was happening.

"...fumu. Where did you fight them?"

Ber Al lowered his voice down, he didn't want this incident to be spread as a rumour before the army completely understand what's going on. 

There's only one thing that came to mind when monsters behaving like this...

Although Ber Al was this kind of person who always seemed cheerful and often joked around, he was still one of the Captain of the Shyaraya's Army. He never made light of any situation. 

"We fought them within the border, on the ranches sector. They're a pack of Giant Wolves. Ordinarily, when we fought a pack of them, our force would suffered mortal damage. Although each of them was ranked C, a pack is very dangerous considering that they are smart creature with high level of coordination. But when we fought them, there's almost no coordination at all and it's like they didn't focus on us. It was as if....."

"There is much stronger monster that invaded their habitat."

Laran Page's trailing words being continued by Ber Al. They slightly nod to each other, showing gesture that they understood what each of them was thinking.

Giant Wolves are monsters with the keenest sense recorded in the history of Shyaraya. When they sensed danger, sensed that there was something they couldn't beat with their whole pack, they would observed from afar and run away and attacked later when they have higher chance to win. This is why despite being ranked C individually, in a pack, they went to at least A rank and it got harder to even defeat one when it was in a pack. Though the Army never suffered any death, but a lot of them suffered grave injury which was enough to get them killed or became permanently handicapped. It's all due to Shyaraya's advanced medical knowledge and technique that someone who was cut in half horizontally on the torso could still be alive as long as he or she being treated immediately. The high military, medical, and technological might of Shyaraya was what made it possible to subjugate the Giant Wolves. Thankfully their habitat was near the Himaseru Great Mountain Range, away from any kind of civilization besides Shyaraya who could defend themselves. If a Giant Wolves' pack were to be near another Kingdom or empire, most likely they would be suffering heavy casualty.

"Captain Ber Al, if it's possible, can I ask of you to assemble every available captain's and their army to help in investigating this matter?"

The air Laran wore right now, or more like his atmosphere, made Ber Al smirked.

Still so young but his aura is as thick as us old battle veterans. Guess I have one less to worry 'bout if all of us old coots kicked the bucket. There's already someone here worthy of leading all the captain's.

"Aye, I shall summon 'em now. It is best if we could go tomorrow at dawn"

Looking at Ber Al stood up, Laran also stood at gave him a military salute.

"Thank you, Captain"

"Aye. Ye should ready your squads too"

"Certainly, sir"

Ber Al then excused himself, meanwhile Laran Page went into deep thoughts while gradually sipping his ale.

I hope, there's nothing wrong that we couldn't handle happen....but why? Why is it this time I feel like no matter how I tried to be positive, I couldn't get rid of this feeling that this time might be our doom? I feel like there's a calamity brewing from the direction of the Great Himaseru....

In darkened mood, Laran Page watch his reflection on his ale.

Please, God of Light Allus. Give us strength to clear your trials.

After he prayed in his heart, he drank the rest of his ale all at once and readily got up from his seat before he finally went to get ready for tomorrow.

====================================================================

In the evening, at Captain Laran Page's Company's barrack.

10 people gathered within the briefing room. Each of them are the Leader of 9 soldiers in their own squad within Laran's Company. 

Just a few moments ago, they were called to gather in the briefing room, but Laran himself hasn't arrived yet. 

"I wonder what's this about?"

A woman in her early 30s muttered on her own. She's the only woman among the squad leaders. She has a wavy long brown hair tied into a ponytail. Her stature is tall and slender, but in a closer look, healthy muscle could be seen bulging here and there on her body. Her face is charming enough that it might piqued the interest of both the opposite and the same sex. Her name is Pheyta Anque. She's a magician. But unlike Magicians in general, Shyaraya's Magicians are both nimble and has as much as stamina as the warrior or foot soldiers. The only difference is that Magician attacked using magic instead of weapon just like how a warrior did.

Shyaraya's military army did not differentiate by gender nor age. As long as one have the capability, and could bear the responsibility to keep the peace of the Kingdom, anyone could serve as soldier. Whether he or she was a beggar or a noble, their position in the military was solely based on their own capability.

Although right now Shyaraya's army totaling around 1000 people, very few comparing to the Empire's army totalling 100,000 soldiers, 40% of Shyaraya's citizens are "Soldiers in disguise" despite them wasn't soldiers. In wartime, citizens got conscripted just like any other place, the difference with Shyaraya is that the citizen received military training in their education since they were children. Thrice a week, the citizens are obligated to train themselves with 9 others in a squad size team. Once in two months, they're training in company size. And once a year the whole of Shyaraya's military did a join training with the "Soldiers in disguise". 

While the current 1000 soldiers are the permanent amount in peacetime, in wartime the soldiers quantity spiked to 70.000. 

The police force don't have temporary members. But each of them could defeat a soldier in a spar rather easily. In a kingdom where 40% of its citizens are "soldier" the Police is an elite group who could apprehend them.

Back on topic.

The man besides Pheyta overheard what she muttered. His height is almost two meters, with muscle too bulky one might think he could lift two obese people on both hands easily. Though his face full of old scars, his gaze is gentle. Scars of battle could actually be healed too, but for this man, Helg Wogan, scars from battlefield are like a medal he didn't want to get rid off.

"Probably it's about the wolves we encountered today"

Helg turned his gaze towards Pheyta. Their heights didn't differs so much.

"I see. Captain did look like he was deep in thought in the journey back. But why? Shouldn't he be glad that it was an easy battle where we didn't even suffer any significant injury?"

Pheyta wrinkled while she caressed her chin with her finger just like an old sage caressing his long white beard.

"Hoh. I guess it's because you're a magician who fight a bit away, so you didn't realize."

Hearing Helg snorted at her, Pheyta finally turned her gaze on Helg with a hostile eyes.

"Then let me illuminate you. When I was fighting them, I feel that they were much weaker than how they were usually." 

"But it could also mean that we're getting stronger, right?"

Pheyta responded immediately as if she's cutting off what he's about to say.

"Unlikely. The last time we fought them was a week ago. Even if we did get stronger, it wouldn't be this overwhelming victory against them."

"So?"

"I suspect, no, the others might also have suspected that there's something wrong. The wolves behaved as if they prioritized fleeing instead of fighting."

"Their head wasn't in the game, is that what you mean"

"Yes. Maybe that's why the captain's deep in thought. After all it's also the military duty to find the reason for any oddity happening outside the border."

"We fought inside the border though?"

Hearing Pheyta retort, Helg could only smile.

When they're about to continue the conversation, the door of the briefing room was opened and Laran entered.

"Attention"

With one word from Laran, the leaders immediately stopped what they were doing and stood ready.

"This afternoon, all of us captains had a meeting. We were discussing the behavior of the Giant Wolves our company had fought earlier today."

Although the 10 leaders who were listening to what Laran said stood still, but some nods their head slightly in agreement to the captain. One of them was Helg.

"As you might noticed, the Giant Wolves' high level of coordination as a pack couldn't even be felt when we fought them. They were trying to flee."

More heads nodded in agreement.

"But they were not trying to flee from us. Instead, I felt that they thought us as just an obstacles in their endeavour to flee."

Laran watched the squad's leaders' expression, before he continued.

"They were trying to flee in our direction, Shyaraya."

Pheyta who heard that tilted her head slightly in confusion while she mumbled why.

"It was as if they were trying to be as far away from their habitat which is near Himaseru. Thus, us captains agreed to send four out of six companies to an expedition to investigate this matter. Naturally, our company is included"

One of the squad leaders raised his hand.

"Pardon me, captain. Isn't it excessive to send four companies just to investigate?"

The squad leader who just raised his hand felt that sending 400 soldiers to investigate was a waste of time.

"Actually, no. Considering that we are heading to the Giant Wolves' habitat, four hundreds might not even be enough. Not to mention if there are other monsters as or more dangerous. It is likely that there is a monster strong enough to chased off Giant Wolves' from their habitat"

This time, Helg raised his hand.

"So, we would just go and do some recon, captain?"

"That is included, but if it is possible we need to subjugate any monsters which might put our kingdom in danger. If it is not possible, we retreat and inform the news, and then prepare for the next expedition"

"When will us depart?"

"Tomorrow morning. Prepare anything that you need, ask the storehouse's clerks for any supplies you want to bring. Gather with the rest of the company on the training field at dawn. Dismissed"

Once Laran Page finished giving them briefing, he went out of the briefing room. Soon after, the 10 leaders also went out.

====================================================================

Early morning.

Once Laran, Ber Al, and the other captains arrived on the training field, every soldiers from the companies which are going to an expedition already gathered and stood ready.

"I leave the rest to ye, ey?"

Ber Al shook hands with the 2nd Captain who was as old as Ber Al. They were talking about what to do in case things go sideways.

Meanwhile, Laran was talking with the other younger captains who would also go to the expedition.

"So, 3rd Captain. A lot of my men were whining about the excessive force in this expedition. After all 400 of us could decimate thousands soldiers of another kingdoms, not to mention 400 for a recon is just too much. What do you think?"

The 4th Captain who was a bit older than Laran talked to him while he was casually chatting with the 9th Captain.

Laran ended his talked with the 9th, and turned his head on the 4th.

"What are you talking about, 4th Captain? Did you not attend the captains meeting yesterday? Surely you too, realize that 400 is not too excessive"

Laran wrinkled his brows while he stared at the 4th Captain with the eyes that seemed to say you didn't completely explain to your men, did you.

"What's that look for? I did explain to them. But just as you know, my men are mostly muscle for brain. They thought with just them, they could killed every single Giant Wolves in their habitat"

The 4th captain let out a sigh. Laran could only smiled wryly when he heard that.

The 4th Company. Famous for its brute force, adept in defensive and offensive battle. They acted like a sturdy wall or a defensive-line breaker. The soldiers in the 4th Company are good at defensive spells which raises their resistance against all kind of attacks, they also have a self-regeneration spell enough to heal claw wounds or broken bones after a while. There are only several healers out of the 100 in the 4th company. While they were on the offensive, their physical enhancement spells combined with their defensive ones made every armies from other kingdom preferred to meet a horde of monsters instead of the 4th Company when they did a join military training with Shyaraya. Their only weaknesses were, despite being strong, their offensive was just like thugs in a thug war, and even though they have sturdy Earth Wall spell, if they got bombarded by attack magics from a mage company from afar, they would lost once they ran out of mana to sustain their defensive spells. After all, no matter how much mana a warrior has, it couldn't surpassed mages.

Meanwhile, Laran Page's 3rd Company was lauded as the most balance, thus offering high flexibility for strategies in the battlefield.

Laran looked up and saw that the sky gets brighter. He walked towards Ber Al.

"Pardon me, 1st Captain. It is time"

"Aye, let's go!"

Laran gave his salute to the 2nd Captain before he followed Ber Al.

====================================================================

Two hours later. The 1st, 3rd, 4th, and 9th Company arrived at the border.

400 soldiers arrived by riding magical train floating on top of magical circles arrayed on the ground. Although it was called a train, it looks more like a Tram without a roof, as long as a Train. Although the Car wasn't attached to each other physically, but magically. So it would be easy to increase or reduce the amount of Cars running on the magical circles track. The tracks and the cars were easily made which make Shyaraya never be out of supplies in wartime because they could send their supplies from the back to the front via the newly created magical tracks as their supply line.

Laran and everyone on the expedition got off the train. From now, they need to walk towards Himaseru.

Because besides monsters, animal would rampage the closer it got near the Great Mountain Range. While every magical devices based on magic circle formula wouldn't work properly because the mana near Himaseru isn't stable, just like how electronics did not work properly when the electric current was having lower or higher output than it was supposed to have.

The four companies walked in marching formation. The 4th Company split into two columns, fifty each, twenty five per row per column. Behind them, on the right column was the 9th Company. The left was Laran's. Behind the 3rd and 9th company was the Captain Ber Al 1st Company.

Another hour of marching off the border, the companies met with a pack of Giant Wolves, numbering 25. Even though usually they would only be in a group of 6 or 8 at most, this time 25 Faint Wolves were swarming the companies.

Immediately, the 4th Company merged themselves to the other three companies to act as their "Decoy" or "Tank" as how it's usually being referred as.

While the soldiers from the 4th company were taking the Wolves' attention to them, the soldiers in other companies sent out their attack on the wolves quite easily.

The battle didn't even last 10 minutes, and all of the wolves were dead. This battle reminded the captains that there IS indeed something strange going on brewing from Himaseru's direction.

After all, Giant Wolves were usually not this stupid. They would not attack a group of 400 soldiers marching in formation, heavily equipped, in a broad daylight. They also would not attack individually like this time. Their attack method was always attack in a group by attacking the target which decrease the winning percentage of their enemies.

"The closer we got, the stranger the atmosphere feels"

Said the 9th Captain, sweat decorated his forehead which wasn't protected by the helm.

The 9th Company is as specialized as the 4th. The captain is adept in Ranger's skills. From tracking, finding path, recon, deactivating traps, or setting up traps. His company reflect his skills. Only those with the same skill tree as the captain entered the 9th. If the 4th was the Ultimate Wall, the 9th was the Ultimate Scout. They were adept in Scouting either in skills or spells, they were also adept in investigations. The thing about Spells is, even though they have formula, not everyone could learn the same spell, and not everyone could be as strong as the other. Just like how there are mathematical formulas but not anyone could be good at it.

Another two hours the companies were marching. Himaseru didn't seem to be getting closer at all despite it looked so close. Now it's noon, the companies stopped in the middle of a plain with no obstacle as far as the horizon and were resting to eat their ration.

"Squad One. Scout ahead, go back in 45 minutes."

Laran who was about to sit, overheard the 9th Captain.

"9th Captain, may I and some of my Squads go with the scout team?"

Said Laran in front of the 9th who was in the middle of giving orders.

"Why, isn't this the 3rd Captain? It's okay even if you don't accompany them. My squad is sufficient enough for this kind of job. Or are you saying, that we're inept at it that the Great 3rd Company has to help?"

With hostile gaze, the 9th stared Laran in the eyes. The 9th Captain was always hostile to Laran due to petty jealousy. Their age was the same, but they came from different backgrounds with the 9th being with a nicer background, yet he lost to Laran. The 9th always had the time to nitpicked on Laran. He never hated Laran of course, and Laran knew about it too. His behaviour to Laran was akin to a girl being rude to the guy she likes, albeit there's something wrong with this kind of comparison.

"No, Captain. I just...I just don't want to sit around not knowing about the reason of my unease. My unease is getting stronger the closer we got to Himaseru"

Noticing the anxious expression of Laran, the 9th Captain just signed.

But the gaze that Laran sent towards the 9th reflects sincerity and there's no traces of any kind of bad intention. Was what the 9th Captain felt.

"Okay. But under the condition that you followed the directions given by my scouts when you're scouting with them. I don't mind if you take charge once it turn into battle situation"

"Thank you, Captain"

Laran gave the 9th a salute and a smile which made the 9th turned away his eyes.

Then Laran got shooed away by the 9th, Laran obeyed because he had done what he came for.

"Attention"

When he arrived at the place where his company was resting, Laran saw that a lot of them were about to put a spoonful of food to their mouth and halted what they were about to do because Laran demanded their attention. Laran could only smiled wryly and felt bad about it.

"Pheyta, and Helg. Come with me with the scout team. Everyone else, rest but still be cautious"

Everyone else besides Pheyta and Helg in the 3rd Company sat down once again.

"Eeeeh~ but I'm hungr-mmph!"

Pheyta who was about to be rude had her mouth covered by one of her subordinates.

Laran knew, but pretended not to.

Helg just nodded and moved to take up his equipments before he followed Laran to gather with the scout teams from the 9th.

A bit away from where Laran's 3rd Company was resting, the scouts from the 9th were waiting and fully ready.

"Captain Laran, only three people?"

The leader of the scouts said with a polite tone, albeit a bit informal.

"Yes, it is better not too bring many people that would only be a bother to your duty"

"Alright, let's go"

Laran and co along with the scouts casted enhanced magic and then all of them ran.

Laran, Pheyta, and Helg's enhance magic was Haste which enhanced the movement speed of the body. While the one the scouts used were Weightless focused on their body, and Power Boost to enhanced their overall muscle strength.

The former group ran while leaving behind footsteps and sound. While the later ran without leaving any traces on the ground, or any kind of stepping sound. All of them were running at 60 km/h.

15 minutes later after they ran for quite a distance, the scout leader who was on the very front made a hand signal to stop.

"Something's on the horizon. Near the foot of Himaseru..."

Laran casted Sight enhanced, but he couldn't see what the scout leader wa pointing to. He only felt that there's something bad moving, and it chilled his spine.

".....oh...fuck..."

But the scout leader certainly see, along with the other scouts.

"Let's run and warn the other to retreat! I'll explain while we're running!!"

Laran's group listened to him and begun to retreat. This time, some of the scouts were on the back, eracing the traces they left with magic.

"What is wrong leader!"

Shouted Laran while he was running.

"Hordes! Monsters horde! An endless amount of them!"

The scout leader answered, leaving all the politeness.

"That's not the problem! They're running at a breakneck speed of 100km/h! Towards us!"

"!?"

Laran's expression turned ghastly.

100km/ hour, in just a few hours they'd reached Shyaraya's border. 

All the way while running, Laran was thinking what was the best thing to do.

First, he thought that he needs to send these scouts to report to the higher ups.

Second, evacuate all the non-combatant away with the magic circles prepared for evacuation.

Third, all combat personnel has to buy time until the evacuation is finished.

He turned his head to look at what's behind the scouts.

With his Sight enhanced active, Laran could finally see it. Black humanoid monsters, on the horizon, closing on them so fast as if it was a giant shadow that wanted to drag them to the abyss.

It is impossible to fight that horde head on no matter how. Siege. Siege battle is the only thing we can do and it is also the best method to buy time. Thought Laran.

Finally, after what seemed to be forever. They arrived at the camp.

"Retreat!! As fast as possible!! An endless horde running at approximately 100km/h is heading towards us!"

Screamed the scout leader with sweat drenching out from his body. 

Everyone who heard it immediately packed their stuffs and ready to retreat.

They didn't need any further confirmation, or any other nonsense of why they should retreat. When the Scouts with high credibility said to retreat, there's no need to think twice and just followed the order.

"Everyone, RETREAT!!"

Shouted Ber Al like a lion who roars.

After that, they all ran like a herd of fleeing rabbits.

They ran and ran and finally reached the border where the Magic Train was.

Ber All issued commands.

"9th! Report to His Majesty!"

"3rd evacuate the citizens!"

"4th, follow me to prepare the army!"

The three captains gave salute to Ber Al and begun to move as commanded.

Laran and his Company spread around the border and told the citizens to evacuate to the capital and used the teleport circle there. He sent Phyeta and Helg's squads to guard the evacuating citizens, meanwhile the rest of his squads stayed at the border.

Time passed, and the black shadow on the horizon already ceased to looked like shadow, but black abominations running towards them. Laran could only pray that as many people as possible could be evacuated while he watched the horde with his Sight enhanced.

Then a messenger from the 1st Company came.

"Captain Laran, every citizens that lives near the border has all been evacuated within the capital! Please retreat and ready for siege!"

Then Laran and the rest of the 3rd ran again.

The horde ran behind them could already be seen without his sight enhanced.

Their speed outmatched them, and before long, they would catch up to them before they could even entered the Capital which also function as a fortress.

"KEEP RUNNING WHILE MULTI-CASTING EARTH WALLS AS THICK AS POSSIBLE BEHIND YOU TO SLOW THEM BACK!"

Everyone casted Earth Walls behind them and it created obstacles here and there on the road.

But it could only slowed down for a few seconds a part of the horde while many of them just circumvent the the obstacles.

"Captain! Keep running! We'll keep em busy!"

All of sudden, one of the squad's stopped and ready to face the horde.

Laran gritted his teeth and continued running. He knew that if he didn't sacrifice someone, then the rest of the squads would also be dead.

Subconsciously, Laran turned his head to face the squad that sacrificed themselves. Immediately, he regretted it. 10 people, could only slowed them down by a few seconds. They were swarmed as if a castle of sand got washed away by the wave.

It seemed that it wasn't only him who turned to look.

Then, five squads who ran nearby, stopped and pulled out their weapons.

They made a battle formation, ready to take on some of the horde.

"Live well, Captain!!!"

One of the representative from the squads that stopped to fight, shouted while he raised his weapon as if he were to pierced the sky with it. The others followed along.

Now, only 20 people remained. They ran.

The gate  could already be seen ahead, but the horde was only 30 meters behind Laran.

We couldn't make it...

Laran thought as he was about to open his mouth to shout "Close the gate".

Then all of sudden, a barrage of Ice, Wind, and Fired magic were shot out from the top of the fortress. The explosions halted the horde just a little bit.

But it didn't end there. 

Before the dust from the explosions could settle down, a thick Earth Wall spanning a kilometer divided the land between Laran's two squads and the horde.

A few second later, Laran and his 19 men finally entered the Capital fortress.

70 soldiers of the 3rd Company were the very first victims of humanity in their fights against them.