Chapter 15: First beast tide
Smoke stung Ethan's eyes as he stared in shock at the unfolding chaos in the compound. Raging fires, panicked screams, monstrous roars splitting the night - it was like a scene from the apocalypse. The beast tide had struck with unprecedented ferocity, overwhelming several outer defensive lines before anyone could react. Now, nightmarish creatures stalked through the ravaged courtyards, hunting anything that moved.
Ethan's pulse pounded as he tried to steady his spinning mind. He had trained for beast waves before, but only minor ones easily repelled by the elders. Nothing like this cataclysmic invasion. Fear threatened to paralyze him, but he knew hesitation meant death.
Through the acrid haze, he spotted a large reptilian beast with dagger-like teeth grappling with a small figure by the central fountain - Jenny! A classmate Ethan had admired from afar. Fiercely brave with a wit that somehow softened even the gruffest mentors. Her braided red hair whipped wildly as she fought the creature, but Ethan could tell she was tiring against its brute strength.
Ethan felt himself trembling. But how could he call himself a cultivator, sworn to protect the innocent, if he failed to act now? Gripping his jade pendant, Ethan whispered a prayer to his ancestors for courage. Then, ax raised and golden wings shimmering into being on his back, he took off in a steep dive straight toward the fountain.
"Get away from her!" he bellowed, swinging hard at the creature's neck as it looked up in surprise. Blood sprayed in an arc as his blade connected, though the beast was only staggered, not felled. It rounded on Ethan with a bone-jarring roar, thick muscles rippling. Jenny crawled weakly backward, her own weapon lost somewhere in debris.
"Ethan! Be careful!" Jenny cried as he squared off against the monster. It swiped enormous claws at his chest that he barely dodged. The next blows came relentlessly, forcing Ethan on the defensive. He felt his stamina draining trying to shield against the onslaught.
Just then salvation came from an unexpected corner - Crazy Claude from the kitchens burst onto the scene wielding a massive soup ladle and meat cleaver. Though only a cook, Claude had enough mystic arts to magnify his tools to ludicrous proportions.
"Ceeease your salad shredding, vile lettuce!" Claude bellowed at the beast in his usual unhinged way. Wielding the giant ladle like a flyswatter, he bashed the confused creature silly while cackling gleefully. "Back to the stew pot with ya!"
Ethan seized the distraction to vault over the creature's spiked tail and drive his sword directly into the base of its skull while it was still reeling from Claude's ladle. With a final shudder, the monster collapsed dead at their feet.
Panting and covered in ichor, Ethan staggered over to help Jenny up. "Are you alright?" he asked worriedly, watching her wince.
Jenny gave a breathless laugh. "I'll be fine thanks to my heroes." To Ethan's surprise, she suddenly hugged him fiercely. He froze momentarily then relaxed into her embrace, his own chuckled joining hers.
Claude was still dancing around the fountain waving his oversized utensils. "Huzzah, no more beast cubes for this chef!"
Their mirth was short-lived though as an earth-shaking stomp heralded another monster bounding through the smoke toward them. More shrieks split the night as it attacked fleeing groups nearby. Jenny pulled a small whistle from her tunic and blew it loudly in a secret pattern despite her obvious pain and fatigue.
Moments later, they were astonished to see Crazy Claude bristling wildly as his aura amplified. With a burst of maniacal cackles, he launched his impossible meat cleaver like a massive boomerang straight toward the new beast. It slammed home with a sickening crack, felling the creature instantly. Claude blew imaginary smoke from his finger like he was holstering a pistol.
Ethan helped support the limping Jenny as they retreated cautiously toward shelter. All around the compound, the tide seemed to slowly be turning as rallying defense efforts gained ground. Perhaps the endless drills had kicked in after all. Ethan kept glancing behind for more threats, his sword still defensively raised. But his hands had stopped shaking at last. He had passed his baptism by fire and would defend these people and these lands with his last breath if need be.
Beside him, Jenny gave his shoulder a grateful squeeze. "Not bad out there, new guy," she said with an exhausted but impressed smile. "Looks like that fancy second-year training is paying off after all. Remind me to join you for some extra drills once we get through this madness. You might make a proper guardian yet!"
Ethan returned the smile with swelling camaraderie and pride. With bright souls like Jenny by his side, he knew tonight's horror would only forge their sacred bonds stronger for the challenges yet to come.