Upcoming Doom

In the early morning, Reychard's investigation team was already moving through the forest in a quick and stealthy manner. They didn't want to attract the surrounding monsters and delay their important task.

Meanwhile, in Oakheart town, many adventurers and armies stood tall in their assigned positions, readying themselves for the upcoming battle.

Many of them felt anxious, while others prayed to their respective gods for their safety, each one of them remembering clearly the last wave attack that had taken a heavy toll on their comrades.

Outside the town, the activity of the monsters could be seen beginning to run rampant, giving a sign that the third wave attack would soon begin.

In one of the army posts, a burly crocodile-man and a cat-man were assigned to position with other soldiers.

This was none other than Rander and Clawrend, the two guards who liked to extort Nikos whenever they met him.

Clawrend was surrounded by a bad feeling regarding this third wave attack. "Rander, I have a really bad feeling about all of this," he said.

"What are you worrying so much about? We'll be fine," Rander replied, while sharpening his spear on the chair.

"Maybe you're right, I guess I'm worrying too much about this," Clawrend said, trying to reassure himself.

Rander stood up and placed his hand on Clawrend's shoulder. "We can handle this, just like we used to when we were kids. Doesn't it?" he said, trying to reassure his childhood friend.

Clawrend weakly nodded his head, trying to calm his mind, but his heart still felt conflicted.

"Here, your strength elixir," Rander said, pulling out two strength potions they had obtained from extorting Nikos, and handing them to Clawrend. "Remember, use it in a critical moment."

Clawrend nodded to his friend, took the potions, and put them on his belt. The two didn't catch a glimpse of the slightly ominous color coming from the potions.

In another place, deep inside the forest, Reychard's investigation team had already arrived at the front of the mysterious cave, with everyone safe and sound, and without any disturbance from the monsters.

The cave entrance looked extremely narrow, giving off an ominous and sinister aura.

Reychard turned to look at his team, "Are you all ready?"

Everyone responded in unison with a nod. Then he looked at Nikos, who had been taking a glance around the area for a couple of moments.

"Let's go in," Nikos said.

Reychard nodded and led them into the cave entrance.

On the main gate of Oakheart, among the adventurers, a man from the giant race stood tall, as Reychard was on a really important task.

This time, the one leading the adventurers directly was the guild master himself, Mesa.

The guild master wore a full armor made of titanium steel from his neck down to his foot. He stood upright and full of determination. On his left hand, he held lightly a big heavy metal mace, and on his right, he gripped his helmet.

The time showed is already in the morning, but the sky was shrouded by dark black clouds, blocking the sunlight that should have been shining, its all like a storyteller telling an ominous atmosphere for the impending doom.

Mesa gazed at the dark sky, thinking to himself. Whoever is behind this monster wave attack, our hope lies with Reychard and Nikos, please end this nightmare, while we here will defend the town with all our might.

Mesa turned to glance at the other adventurers, their faces a mix of negative emotions, predominantly dread and anxiety, some faces even painted with despair.

Unable to let the situation of the adventurers drag on any longer, Mesa walked to the front and addressed them in a heavy tone and powerful voice. "My fellow adventurers!"

The words grabbed every adventurer's attention, those who were positioned at the top of the fortress as well as those below, they all looked towards him, forgetting for a moment about their worries and fear.

Mesa continue, "Soon the wave is going to attack, and each of us will die!"

His unexpected words struck them hard, catching everyone off guard, they looked at each other in confusion, unsure of what the guild master meant.

"You all had the chance previously to run out of this town, when the monsters were in a slightly weakened state." Mesa looked deep into everyone's eyes. "Yet you didn't!"

Mesa's words rang true to their hearts. Everyone's eyes began to heavily focus on the guild master, their ears rapt with attention at his words.

"Deep down, each one of you loves this place. In this town, Oakheart, we meet our friends, our comrades, we meet our true love, having family and our children here. You all swear to live and die here!"

The adventurers' hearts were set ablaze, their spirits ignited by Mesa's oration.

Mesa took a heavy breath and shouted, "Throw away all your cowardice! Die defending our town or live to see all those filthy monsters destroying our homes!"

The adventurers' eyes blazed with determination.

"Huh Hah Huh!" a band of adventurers began to hitting their armor while shouting a war cry.

"Huh Hah!" a female archer on top of the fortress wall joined the war cry.

On the corner, many young adventurers also joined in.

Soon, all the other adventurers in the surrounding area joined in, transforming their fear, anxiety, and dread into a strong determination to defend their beloved town.

Mesa too joined in, hitting his chest armor with his titanium helmet, joining the war cry of his fellow adventurers. The clanking sound of his armor fiercely clashed with the loud chant of the war cry, perfectly matching each other; the sound of fear, cry, anger, and determination.

Then, from outside the Oakheart town wall, a deafening roar was heard, the ground shaking as if shuddering at the arrival of the monsters.

The adventurers turned their attention to the march of the monsters, continuing to shout their war cry, steeling their determination.

From a distance, march after march of monsters could be seen running in a rampage, in disordered positions, while in the sky, a deafening screech traveled through the air, accompanied by the aerial monsters.

The war cry of the defenders of the town continued to echo with great intensity, matching the deafening roar of the monsters.

The monsters were now very close, just a few meters in front of them.

Mesa put on his titanium helmet. "The attack is coming!" he shouted, raising his mace, "Raise your weapons, prepare to engage!"