Creeping Horror

After the meeting concluded, the announcement echoed through the town, urging everyone to prepare for evacuation. The response from the public was far from calm; fear rippled through the crowd like a shockwave. Whispers of dread filled the air, and panic began to set in.

The Sentinels moved swiftly to control the chaos. They formed barriers between the panicking citizens and the gates, reassuring them that their safety was the priority. Voices of authority shouted commands, but the tremor of uncertainty still resonated in the hearts of the people.

In the following days, the streets of Liburn were met with an eerie silence. The usual hustle and bustle of daily life was replaced by a haunting stillness. Shops remained shuttered, and children's laughter was replaced by the distant sound of rustling leaves. Families began gathering their belongings, but many were torn between the instinct to flee and the longing to protect their home.

Amidst the ensuing panic, Raizo, the Guardian, stepped forward, embodying the hope and strength the citizens desperately needed. Understanding the gravity of the situation, he made a public appearance at the town square, his presence commanding attention.

With a voice that resonated like thunder, he addressed the crowd. "Liburn is our home, and I will not let fear dictate our fate! We stand together as one, and together we will face whatever darkness approaches!" His words, charged with conviction, reverberated through the air, cutting through the cloud of despair that hung over the town.

As he spoke, the tense atmosphere began to shift. The citizens, who had been on the brink of chaos, started to calm down. Eyes that were once filled with dread now flickered with a glimmer of hope. They remembered the tales of the Guardians—legendary figures who possessed the strength to split rivers and carve hills. Each Guardian was a beacon of power and resilience, and Raizo was no exception.

Many began to believe that perhaps they wouldn't have to abandon their homes after all. The stories of the Guardians had been passed down through generations, and their presence instilled a sense of security. 

From Dormant to Initiate, from Sentinel to Guardian. Each phase represented not just a growth in strength but a profound commitment to protect the people. The realization that Raizo stood among them, a Guardian ready to defend, renewed their spirits. They were reminded that they were Renowned Hunters, a community forged by resilience and strength.

As Raizo concluded his speech, a wave of determination washed over the crowd. They began to rally together, not just as individuals facing a threat, but as a united front ready to defend their beloved Liburn. The Sentinels, inspired by their Guardian, took their positions with renewed vigor, ready to face whatever horror lurked beyond the horizon.

But was it enough? The thought gnawed at the experienced hunters, Horror-class creatures were not to be trifled with; their very existence was a testament to the nightmares that had once overwhelmed even the mightiest of militaries.

When the gates first appeared, the world had been unprepared. The terror unleashed by those horror-class creatures had been swift and merciless, overwhelming the advanced military forces that once stood proud and resolute. The entire American continent had fallen, swallowed by the chaos and destruction they wrought.

Those who remembered the dark days spoke in hushed tones of the battles fought and lost, of brave soldiers who had given their lives against an enemy that seemed unstoppable. Despite the newfound strength granted by the system, the scars of that defeat remained fresh in the minds of many.

As the days passed, the citizens of Liburn couldn't shake the growing dread that accompanied the impending confrontation. Whispers of doubt began to circulate—would their Guardian's strength be enough to face a horror that had once brought a continent to its knees?

As the meeting adjourned, Kei felt a storm of emotions swirling within him. The thought of losing Liburn, the very city he had grown up in, weighed heavily on his heart. Memories flooded his mind: the laughter of friends echoing through the streets, the Academy, the familiar sights of his neighborhood, and the overpriced bland instant noodles from his favorite shop—each detail a reminder of what was at stake.

He headed home, observing the fearful faces of the people and the emptier streets of the alleys.

Liburn was not just a place; it was his home, woven into the fabric of his identity. The faces of neighbors and friends flashed before him, and he felt an overwhelming sense of helplessness as the prospect of losing them loomed large.

Kei's heart ached with the desire to assist in the fight against the encroaching horror. He wanted to stand alongside Raizo and the Sentinels, to defend the city that had nurtured him. Yet, a gnawing doubt consumed him. At just fourteen years old, and being just a D-rank dormant class. Despite the blessings of the system, he felt inadequate. He had slain a monster before, but that victory seemed trivial compared to the titanic challenge they now faced. The thought of battling a horror-class creature felt like a distant dream—one that he was not yet prepared to chase.

Sitting on the edge of his bed, Kei clenched his fists, frustration bubbling within him. "Why can't I be stronger?" he muttered to himself, the weight of his limitations pressing down harder than any physical burden. He had trained relentlessly, pushing himself to grow, but the reality of his rank felt like a chain that bound him to the ground.

He went asleep with a heavy heart, he was to join the evacuation tommorow, with Chrome and Ayumi, leaving behind the only home he had ever known. Donnes, Raizo, Gramps and everyone he knew and love would stay behind—facing the horror head-on, either to vanquish it or to hold the line long enough for the citizens to escape.