Chapter 30: Monster Stampede, Battling The monsters

The atmosphere within the walls protecting the town was palpable with tension and determination. Every awakener, from veteran warriors to ordinary 'Awakened', stood ready to defend their home at any cost against the looming threat of the monster stampede. 

Several skilled warriors positioned themselves strategically atop the walls, their keen eyes scanning the horizon for any sign of the approaching monsters. They meticulously observed the creatures' numbers, their trajectory, and the predominant types among them, relaying crucial information to the rest of the defenders below.

This intelligence was invaluable, allowing the adventurers and defenders alike to prepare themselves mentally and strategically. They huddled together, discussing tactics to confront the monsters head-on while exploiting their adversaries' weaknesses to maximize their chances of victory.

Meanwhile, the mounted turrets adorning the walls crackled with potent mana, their magical energies humming with readiness. These turrets were the main character of defense during monster stampedes, capable of obliterating even the most formidable Tier 3 monsters with a single well-placed shot. Each turret was supported by a team of ten skilled warriors who infused their mana into the machinery, powering them up to unleash devastating barrages.

Among all the turrets lining the walls, one stood out prominently. Beside it stood two figures, one lanky with grey hair and beard while another jacked without any hair, pouring their own mana into the turret with unparalleled focus and skill.

These people were none other than the town's esteemed Lord, an 'Elite' ranked warrior specializing in 'mana' attribute, and Guild master of the 'Adventurers Guild' who specialized in 'strength' attribute. In essence, One was a 'Mage' of formidable prowess, who wielded mana for the protection of our town while another was a formidable 'Warrior' who wielded a blade to decimate anyone that disrupted the town's peace.

 Even I was amazed looking at the 'Guild master' as I had no idea about the presence of another 'Elite' in the town. 

"What's more, I had worked for the guild for years by now."

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Roar…. Roar…

The ground was shaking along with the fearsome roars from the monsters that were glaring at the adventurers standing at the top of the walls with greed filled in their eyes. Their maws reeked with blood lust, and the saliva wetting their mouth was crimson blood, reminiscent of the blood bath they had ensued in the path they had been through.

[ Attention Brave Warriors!! Monster Stampede is in front of us. Get ready to Battle.]

[ May the God of magic bless you.]

" For the glory"

" Let's go kill these bastards"

" Kill these freakers"

Creak…..

As soon as the monsters started attacking the gates protecting the town, every awakener standing atop the walls started shooting the monsters with the skills they had. Fireballs erupted, blades of air sliced through the air with deadly grace, rocks infused with earthly mana crushed the monster at the front, and water bullets shimmered amidst the fray. 

Everyone was attacking using everything they've got. None was trying to save their mana reserves as any mistake from the adventurers here would lead to the devastation of the town. People might not die but the destruction of infrastructures in the town would take a long time to recover from. 

The determination every adventurer had for the protection of their town, and the people who were still running towards the Bunker for their safety was commendable because everyone was pouring everything they've got in this battle.

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As for me, I stood alongside the veteran warriors who formed the main force in battling the monsters during this attack. I didn't use the 'Rune of Stealth' because my 'Uncommon' rune couldn't hide me from the discerning eyes of the 'Elite' ranked mage commanding the warriors atop the wall. And I didn't intend to use this rune in the first place so it was all right.

Although I was within the group of warriors, none were around me. It was because I had released the 'Aura of strength' that was one of the innate abilities belonging to the elite-ranked warriors.

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"Aura, the culmination of warriors' specialization." It was what I knew about the aura that any 'Elite' ranked warrior could utilize when battling against their foes.

Their specialization became the aura that enhanced their strength and protected their bodies from attacks by those ranked lower than themselves. This specialization was also the reason the 'Elite' warriors could easily defeat several 'Transcendent' warriors in battle. Attacks from Transcendents were greatly negated by the auras protecting the Elite warriors.

There was one drawback of this aura though, it consumed a lot of mana while active. The aura formed from the specialization of different attributes was different from one another, each giving an immense boost to the warriors based on their specializations.

The aura belonging to the Warrior specializing in ' Strength' is generally in the tint of red and generally magnifies their strength by several folds while active. Similarly, Those who specialize in vitality generally have a greenish aura that protects them while also increasing their vitality granting them with accelerated healing and making them able to battle prolonged battles.

As for the aura I could emit, it fluctuated due to instability since I wasn't an Elite-ranked Warrior with the body and mana capable of handling such a presence. You could call it a 'False aura,' as the aura I manifested was merely to intimidate the warriors around me.

" It was all barks, but no bite."

It was what I would call my aura if I had to describe the 'aura of strength' I was materializing.

"Alright, it's all about Aura for now."

Back to the topic at hand.

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I was covered from head to toe with black. With the fluctuating aura I was materializing, it stopped several warriors from even looking at me because, for them, I was the strongest warrior just weaker than the lord and the guild master active within the town.

With such an intimidating presence, I was basically regarded as somebody who had already touched the realm of 'Elites' for the warriors present here. I was enjoying the tense atmosphere here. The look of reverence and respect they were giving, it was totally new sensation for me who was used to being bullied and mocked from childhood.

"Warriors, Aim at the monsters in front of the gate and shoot the magic bullet once I give the signal.' It was the guild master who yelled towards the warriors behind the turrets before jumping off the wall and landing in front of us all. His jacked body was filled with several battle scars, reminiscent of all the battles he had fought until now. 

"Somebody on the cusp of forming their 'aura'. Interesting.. Interesting..." He muttered while looking towards me with curiosity, nodded towards me before moving to the front of every warrior, by the walls.

"For the Peace of this town, we shall massacre every monster outside this gate. Mages fire the turrets."

BOOM..... BOOM....

Along with his yell, around five magic bullets were fired in front of the gate reaping the life of every monster that was clawing the walls. The defeanig 'BOOM' along with the miserable cries of monsters that were able to survive the magic bullets was the only sound ringing in my ears for about a minute. 

"Charge..."

"Kill the monsters..."

Everybody rushed outside the walls with determination while being spearheaded by the guild master of the 'Adventurers guild'. 

I was also in the mix as the sound of skills being utilized and roars of monsters that were getting killed by others atop the tower had excited my bloodthirsty heart. 

I was out for the kill, the scent of blood excited me, and my heart which had stopped beating was brought to life, it was beating with such a vigor that it nearly broke out of my chest. I felt refreshed, my mind was overclocking with extreme sensation.

Longsword in my hand, I slashed towards the ' Dire wolf' that was coming at me with its jaw wide open.

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Monster: Dire Wolf

Tier: 2 (common)

Skills:[Claw attack] [Bloody Fang] [Agile Steps]

One of the common monsters residing in the 'Forest of Grimness'. The monsters here is for the hunt, so kill it before it kills you.

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Ohh… Now I was even able to see the skills belonging to the opponent I was going to battle.

Splatter….

The blood splattered on my face, finally relaxing my mind. I was craving for blood, and my mind was enjoying the sensation of killing monsters. 

Although killing the monster inside the dungeon was fun, it wasn't exhilarating because I could get information about the type of monster and some methods to deal with them before entering the dungeon. The battle might be brutal but the predictable monsters there were not something that calmed my bloodthirsty mind.

As for the information about the dungeons with difficult monsters like, Blood Fairies. I required contribution points to get information on them. I was faced with such trouble previously because I didn't want to…. Nah, I didn't have the ability to purchase the information that was basically in the hands of the most powerful parties active here.

As for the monsters in front of me, they were wild, unpredictable, and most important they were out for blood. The tools that worked on the monsters inside the dungeon didn't work in them as they fought based on their instincts honed while battling in the wild for their survival. 

I might have been able to stun the monsters from Dungeon with 'Light Bombs' but these feral monsters were capable of battling and killing their foes even while being stunned, their instincts of survival had been honed to such a level making them a worst nightmare for any adventurer who had just started the journey.