CHAPTER 3: TANK'S FIRST ACTION

STAY AWAKE

In the small town of Bataen 

A man in his twenties with wavy light brown hair, sits slumped in a chair, deep in sleep. He's clad in a leather tunic armor, his head resting on a sword planted firmly in the ground. Loud snores reverberate through the quiet evening, while drooling like a broken tap.

An old man approaches, his hair long and white, his beard thick and unruly. He gazes at the sleeping man with a mix of irritation and disappointment, his eyes narrowing as the soft moonlight highlights the deep lines of frustration etched into his face.

With a swift kick, the old man knocks the sword from under the sleeping man's head, sending it clattering to the ground with a resounding thud.

"What's the matter with you?!" the young man shouts, jolted awake.

"What do you think you're doing?" the old man asks coldly, his voice cutting through the night like a knife.

"I'm sleeping, for fuck's sake!" the young man retorts, his voice thick with grogginess and annoyance.

"Why are you even sleeping when you're supposed to guard our village?"

Recognizing the voice, the young man's eyes widened, then he lowered his gaze to the ground. "Guard it from what?"

He looked around, taking in the serene scene. Villagers exchanged night greetings happily, children played in the twilight, and two young girls walked hand in hand, clutching flowers. Adventurers roamed the village, their presence adding to the sense of safety.

Surrounded by larger villages capable of conducting night patrols, they faced no threat of bandit attacks, and the demon frontlines were a distant concern. To him, everything seemed just fine and peaceful.

Noticing this, the old man spoke again, this time more firmly. "Son," he emphasized. "Peace can be deceiving… It lulls us into a dream that feels safe, driving us forward with a false sense of security. But remember, it can also turn into a nightmare that we can never wake from. So stand up and take your sword. Stay awake." 

Hearing this, the young man said nothing and picked up his sword. The old man placed a hand on his shoulder. "Now get back to your post and keep watch for us."

The patrolman looked up, meeting the old man's gaze. They shared a moment of silent understanding, their emerald eyes reflecting the same resolve. "Stay awake, so you don't succumb to the nightmare."

The young man rolled his eyes. "Arrghh, I got it," he sighed.

"Just make sure of it, Jusis," the old man said before walking away.

Afterwards, Jusis yawned, muttering to himself, "I really don't understand. How can I stay awake when I'm this sleepy?" He then glanced over at a group of adventurers gathered by the central water well of the village. They were equipped with various weapons—bows, spears, swords, staffs, and maces—and were engaged in animated conversation.

A woman with a bow slung on her back clasps hands with a girl holding a staff. "Good luck on your magic test! We're all rooting for you to ace it!"

A man with a spear leans in. "Yeah, make us all proud and become the first to rank up!"

The girl, a fledgling mage beams. "Thanks, guys! I won't let you down."

Their priest, a thoughtful man, speaks up. "I'd offer a prayer for success, but honestly, with your talent, I don't think the goddess needs to hold your hand, do you?"

The mage just smiles. "Hey, even a divine nudge wouldn't hurt, right?"

"True enough," the priest concedes. "The goddess will surely be watching over you."

"Well then, we shall take our leave," said the largest of them, bearing a great sword and shield.

"We have obtained new information about a dungeon. We shall venture there after your exams," the spearman added.

"We wish for your safe return and success," the priest said.

"You can do it!" the woman with the bow lastly added.

"Sure! Wait for us!" the mage replied happily.

"Let's go, sister," said the man with the sword to the mage.

"Mhm!" The mage nodded, and both of them waved goodbye to their party members.

The siblings, the swordsman and the mage, walked past Jusis.

"Are you sure you have everything you need?" the swordsman asked his sister.

"Yes! I've checked everything many times, and we're ready to go."

"Very well... Now let's go."

"Mhm!"

The siblings finally left the village, and Jusis watched them go. "How nice it must be to adventure freely..." Jusis said enviously, with a touch of sadness.

He let out a sigh. "I should go back to my old, boring, repetitive patrol now."

With that, Jusis continued his patrol. He walked through the heart of the village, where modest thatched-roof cottages lined the cobblestone streets. The walls of these homes were made of timber and wattle, exuding a rustic charm under the soft glow of lantern light. Each house had a small garden out front, brimming with blooming flowers and herbs that added a touch of color to the night.

The village is tranquil, the only sounds being the gentle rustling of leaves and the distant chirping of crickets. Villagers greeted each other warmly as they passed, their faces illuminated by the flickering light of torches and lanterns. You can't feel the cold night in that village. Everything is bright and warm.

Finally, Jusis reached the watchtower, a sturdy wooden structure standing tall against the night sky. It offered a vantage point over the entire village and its surroundings. Climbing the steps, Jusis took his post, his eyes scanning the horizon. The peaceful scene below, bathed in the gentle glow of moonlight, was a stark contrast to the battles and chaos he had seen in the past.

From his elevated position, he could see the entire village at rest, a picture of serenity and harmony. Yet, the old man's words lingered in his mind. "Stay… awake," he reminded himself, gripping his sword tightly. "Peace…can be deceiving."

As Jusis watched over the village, a sudden howl of cold night wind swept through, extinguishing his torch in an instant. He let out a resigned sigh. "Ha~ great..." He grabbed the torch, now darkened by the wind's force. "If only I were a mage or capable of mana manipulation, I could easily light this up again." Reaching into his pockets, he was relieved to find his flint iron.

He prepared the torch and took out the flint iron. He struck the flint against the iron, producing sparks that danced in the night air but failed to catch. When striking flint and iron to create fire, one typically holds a piece of char cloth or tinder close to the spark-producing edge of the flint. By striking the iron against the flint at a sharp angle, sparks fly off, and if done correctly, land on the char cloth or tinder, which begins to smolder. From there, the smoldering material can be carefully blown into a flame and used to light the torch.

Jusis repetitively struck the flint. "This is a pain in the ass. The only thing I can wish for in my entire life is to have some artifact or something that can produce fire with a snap of my fingers."

After several tries, the torch remained unlit. Jusis finally gave up and decided to descend the watchtower to get a fire or an enclosed lantern from the village below.

As he began to descend the wooden ladder, everything suddenly brightened. He saw his shadow cast starkly in front of him. "Huh?" he muttered in confusion. Then, a deafening noise, like an explosion or a lightning strike, pierced the air, and the ground shook violently. The tremor threw Jusis off balance, and he fell, tumbling painfully to the ground below.

The world around him seemed to blur as he landed with a thud. The peaceful village transformed in an instant. The houses, once serene and bathed in gentle moonlight, now appeared ghostly in the sudden brightness. The cobblestone streets rattled, and the flowers in the gardens swayed violently. The lanterns hanging from doorways flickered wildly, casting eerie shadows that danced in the chaos.

Villagers, who had been enjoying the tranquil night, now screamed in panic, children clinging to their parents as they ran for safety. The adventurers by the well immediately grabbed their weapons, their faces set in grim determination as they scanned for the source of the disturbance.

Jusis, groaning in pain, struggled to his feet. His eyes darted around, trying to make sense of the chaos. The old man's warning echoed in his mind. "Stay awake." 

Once he was on his feet, he grabbed a panicking villager by the arm. "What happened?! What was that explosion?!" His voice was full of urgency.

The man's eyes were wide with terror, and he struggled to speak. "T-the demons! We-we-WE'RE BEING ATTACKED!!"

The villager's response sent chills down Jusis's spine, and his heart immediately sank. "Impossible..." As he uttered those words, a loud, screeching noise reverberated from the sky.

Jusis's eyes widened in horror as he saw a dark, winged figure silhouetted against the moonlit sky. The creature, with bat-like wings and glowing eyes, circled above the village. Suddenly, it unleashed a torrent of green fire, setting the rooftops and thatched cottages ablaze in an instant. The eerie green flames licked at the wooden structures, turning them into infernos.

Screams filled the air as villagers fled in every direction. The peaceful village was now a scene of utter chaos. The once serene night was shattered by the roar of flames and the agonizing cries of those caught in the fire. The smell of burning wood and flesh permeated the air, mixing with the acrid stench of the demon's breath.

"It... it can't be... we're too far... how did they attack here?" Jusis stammered, his voice trembling. His mind raced, unable to comprehend how the demons had reached their remote village.

The sky above was filled with more winged horrors, their screeches piercing the night. Shadows flitted across the ground as they swooped down, attacking anything that moved. The green fire they spewed seemed to have a life of its own, spreading rapidly and consuming everything in its path.

Jusis stood frozen, unable to believe the scene unfolding before him. He didn't know what to do anymore and could only watch in horror as the village burned, the flames reflecting in his emerald eyes.

Then suddenly, a familiar voice cut through the chaos. It was old but firm and resolute. "Everyone, head to the south exit gate! We're evacuating now! All combatants, grab your weapons and protect the villagers!"

Jusis turned towards the voice and saw the old man from earlier, now clad in metal armor and carrying a long sword. Their eyes met.

The old man saw Jusis, his eyes wide and filled with tears. Without hesitation, he ran to him and hugged him tightly. "Jusis, you're safe! Thank the heavens." The once cold demeanor of the old man was now warm as he embraced Jusis.

Then he pulled back, gripping Jusis by the arms and shaking him. "Son, wake up! You must escape this village with the other survivors now! There's nothing we can do—the demons have already breached our defenses."

"B-but..." Jusis stammered.

"No buts! You have to go now!"

"How about you?"

"I'll stay here and try to buy you enough time. While there's still time, start your escape to Manilia. It's the only chance we have."

"N-no... I can't do that! I can't leave you alone here and this village!" Jusis pleaded. Then they heard a loud, monstrous howl approaching them.

"Son... listen to me. This is my duty as the chief of this village and..." The old man's voice softened. "And this is my responsibility as your father and my promise to your mother."

"Go and join the first group. Defend them as well, but stay safe..."

Jusis was about to plead more, but the old man interrupted him again.

"I love you, son... you're free now to explore this world."

The old man turned and started heading towards the source of the explosion, where the attack had begun. "And remember, son... stay awake," he said before running off.

"Father!!!" Jusis cried, but his father had already disappeared from sight, heading straight into the heart of the inferno.

The old man arrived at the area where the attack had started and saw a monstrous creature. It looked like a massive pangolin, but it emitted an eerie purple glow. Surrounding it were enormous orcs wielding large axes.

Then suddenly a sudden flash of memory came to him. "Ah, I remember now. The last time he called me 'father' was the night before you destroyed our happy family," the old man said. He remembered that night, he was about to continue his night patrol, when he saw his wife and son sleeping peacefully together. 

Closing his eyes and unsheathing his sword. "I should have stayed awake that time."

Then, the adventurers from earlier arrived at the scene, their faces filled with horror. "H-how did they get here?" the woman with the bow said, her voice trembling.

"C-Cerus!" the spearman stammered, his spear shaking uncontrollably in his hands, yet he didn't move back an inch. "What can we do against that?"

Their priest clasped his hands and began to pray. "Goddess, we entrust our souls to you. May you welcome us into your kingdom... and protect the two siblings. Keep them safe in these dire times."

The old man, now fully awake, looked at the monstrous creature and its orcish guards with determination. "Now that I am awake, it's time for my revenge... no, this isn't revenge. This time, I will protect my son from you!" the village chief shouted as he charged forward, his sword gleaming in the night.