The Invasion

As the alarm bells echoed ominously, Johan felt a cold shiver run down his spine. 'Invasion... the city is being invaded,' he thought, the words crystallizing in his mind. His hands, previously steady on the rifle, began to tremble slightly.

The bustling city, once brimming with life, now looked like a hive disturbed, people scattering in every direction. Shouts of panic and fear filled the air, clashing with the relentless tolling of the alarm bells. Johan could see the once relaxed faces contorted in fear, eyes wide, and hearts pounding.

'What's going to happen now?' Johan thought, feeling a rush of adrenaline, his heart thudding in his chest. He looked around, noticing the other guards already on high alert, their faces a grim reflection of the danger approaching.

The merchant, his previous jovial demeanor replaced with a grim seriousness, began to bark out orders. "Everyone, inside the carriage now! We must leave the city before it's too late!"

Johan looked out at the chaos that had swallowed the city, feeling an odd mix of fear and determination. 'I need to stay calm, I can handle this,' he reassured himself, clutching the rifle tighter.

Johan watched in disbelief as the mayor of the city appeared on the large screen set up at the central square. "Citizens of Jurica, we are under attack by humanoid bats. Please find safety and stay indoors."

The image on the screen flickered to show a horde of grotesque creatures, their bodies like humans but with grotesque, bat-like faces and wings. The sight was chilling, the reality more terrifying than anything he could have imagined.

As the screen went dark, the echoing announcement came: "All capable warriors, report to your battle stations. Defend Jurica!"

'Humanoid bats... We're being attacked by monsters,' Johan's mind was swirling with disbelief and fear, but there was no time for shock or hesitation. He was a bodyguard now, his duty was to protect.

Drawing a deep breath, he turned to the merchant, "We have to join the defense."

"But our cargo..." The merchant started to protest, his face ashen.

"We'll deal with that later. Right now, we have to fight." Johan said, his grip tightening on the AK-47.

Despite the fear clawing at his insides, 'This is it. I can't run away. I have to fight.' His heart pounded in his chest, but there was a strange resolve in his voice. After all, Jurica city is his home. If monsters are successfully, not only fatty, but also his weaponless brother would be in danger.

...

As the merchant scurried off to join other non-combatants in a secure shelter, Johan began preparing for battle. He checked his AK-47, ensuring it was loaded and ready. He grabbed a few grenades, tucking them securely in his belt. Lastly, he put on the vest and helmet that had been handed to him by one of the city's defenders.

'Must protect the city... must protect the cargo...' Johan's mind raced with thoughts of the impending battle and the responsibilities he carried. He glanced back at the tank-like carriage, 'I need to ensure its safety too.'

Johan joined the line of city's defenders. There were men and women there, some hardened warriors, some greenhorns like himself. Despite the differences, they all had the same determined look on their faces. They were Jurica's last line of defense.

As the sun began to set, the city fell into an eerie silence. The streets were empty, the shutters closed. Only the city's defenders remained outside, a grim contrast against the setting sun.

Suddenly, the distant fluttering of wings filled the air. The humanoid bats were approaching. Johan could see the first wave in the distance - their grotesque figures dark against the reddening sky.

'Here they come,' Johan thought, his grip tightening on the AK-47. His heart pounded in his chest, fear mingling with a strange sense of anticipation. 'I'm ready.'

Johan watched as the bats descended on the city like a dark cloud, their shrill screeches echoing through the empty streets. Buildings were bathed in the eerie glow of the setting sun, casting long, menacing shadows that danced with the swooping figures of the humanoid bats. Chaos erupted as the invasion began in earnest.

'Here we go,' Johan thought, steeling himself as the first of the invaders swooped low. With a resounding bang, he fired his AK-47, the kickback jolting his shoulder. He barely noticed the discomfort, his attention solely on the bat that fell from the sky, crashing into a nearby building. 'One down...'

As the battle waged on, Johan found himself in the thick of it, engaging in hand-to-hand combat with a bat that had gotten too close. He swung his dagger, its blade glinting ominously under the fading light. The bat screeched, its wings beating wildly as it tried to fend off his attack. With a swift movement, Johan struck, the dagger sinking into the bat's body. The creature fell, and he quickly moved on to the next.

'I have to keep going...' he thought, panting heavily as he moved to engage another bat. Despite the fear and uncertainty, there was a spark of determination in his eyes. He had a city to protect, a cargo to secure, and he wasn't about to let an invasion of bats stop him.

Amid the chaos, a scream sliced through the night, pulling Johan's attention. He turned just in time to see the merchant, his client, struck down by one of the humanoid bats. His heart clenched, an icy surge of shock washing over him.

'No...' he thought, staring at the lifeless body of the man he'd been hired to protect. He felt a pang of failure, but it quickly morphed into a fierce determination. 'I couldn't save him... but I can still protect this city.'

As if on cue, two figures emerged from the smoke and debris, their arrival shifting the balance of the battlefield. They were Tier 9 Card Masters, each wielding an elemental power that left Johan in awe. One, a woman with flaming red hair, commanded fire, her hands ablaze as she launched balls of fire at the humanoid bats. The other, a man with icy blue eyes, controlled wind, his movements creating gusts strong enough to blow the invaders off their course.

'Tier 9 Card Masters...' Johan's eyes widened as he watched them. 'They're so powerful...'

Seeing them fight renewed his resolve. His fear was replaced by determination, the sight of their power stoking a fire in his heart. He tightened his grip on his daggers, ready to dive back into the fray. He had a job to do, and he would not let the merchant's death be in vain.

He engaged another bat, his movements swift and deadly. He had to fight, for the city, for its people, and for himself. 'This is my battle too... and I won't back down.'

Johan was in the thick of the battle, the weight of the AK-47 reassuring in his hands. The gunfire was deafening as he took down one bat after another, their screeching wails echoing through the night.

'Maintain your position... Keep them at bay...' Johan's thoughts were a constant stream of strategic commands. Despite the raw power of the Card Masters, they were still outnumbered. The guards had to provide a strong line of defense, backing up the Card Masters and preventing the bats from flooding the city.

One of the bats descended on him, its sharp claws slicing through the air. He managed to shoot it down, but not before its claw slashed across his arm. Pain seared through his flesh, but he gritted his teeth, fighting off the urge to scream. 'Just a scratch... It's nothing...'

Amidst the chaos, the Card Masters were a beacon of hope. The fire-master was casting walls of fire to slow down the invasion, while the wind-master was creating wind tunnels to guide the frightened citizens to safety. They were not only fighting but also protecting the people.

'Focus, Johan... You need to keep fighting.' He tightened his grip on the gun, his resolve hardening. He could feel his strength waning, but he wouldn't give up, not when so many lives were on the line and his brother was somewhere in the city.

The city was a battlefield. Buildings crumbled under the destructive force of the invasion, fires blazed unchecked in the streets, and terrified citizens ran for their lives. Yet, despite the carnage, the city fought back. Guards fired ceaselessly into the airborne swarm of Humanoid Bats, and the Card Masters wielded their elemental powers with devastating effect. The defense was fierce, but so was the onslaught.

Johan fought on, each trigger pull a statement of his refusal to back down. His arm throbbed with pain from the wound, his muscles ached from the exertion, but his spirit remained unbroken. He stood his ground, holding the line against the invaders. 'Stay strong... Protect the city...' his thoughts were a mantra of resilience amidst the chaos.

Suddenly, a larger bat, its body almost twice the size of the others, swooped down towards him. Johan lifted his AK-47, aiming for its wide, leathery wings. But as he prepared to fire, a strange sensation pulsed within him - a sudden change in the mysterious card that resided in his consciousness.

'This... what's happening?' he thought, a wave of confusion washing over him. But the oncoming threat left him no time to dwell on the sudden change, and he refocused his attention on the looming danger. As he steadied his aim at the monstrous bat, the chapter ended on a breathless cliffhanger, the outcome of this confrontation hanging in the balance.