Chaos unfurled across the town, thick and suffocating. The sky above was a heavy gray shroud, echoing the despair below.
Shouts echoed in every direction as soldiers darted through narrow, cobbled streets, herding panicked townsfolk into lines that stretched toward the underground disaster shelter beneath the town hall. The shrill blare of warning horns rang again and again—piercing, relentless.
Atop the watchtower, a glowing red stone pulsed like a beacon, each blink steady and ominous. With every burst of crimson light, the stone buildings of the town were momentarily stained blood-red—as though the town itself was bleeding, its heartbeat quickening under the weight of fear.
Soldiers barked orders and dragged barricades into place. The clang of steel, the rumble of boots, and the cries of frightened citizens merged into a discordant symphony of impending doom.
Inside the mayor's office—now hastily converted into a war room—the air hung thick with heat, sweat, and tension. Maps were spread across a large oak table, weighed down by rusted daggers and half-drained inkwells. Red-inked symbols littered the parchment—troop positions, suspected movements, and most notably: circles. Too many circles. Encroaching danger.
The mayor, his eyes gloomy yet alert, stood hunched over the table. His fingers trembled slightly as he clutched the edge of the desk, staring at the latest report.
Around him stood four figures—distinct, unnerving, powerful. Their very presence made the walls feel too tight, the lantern light too dim. They were the four Awakened warriors requested from the city for support.
Grayson lounged against the windowsill, deceptively relaxed. His lean frame cast a long shadow across the floor. Messy ash-blond hair partially veiled his sharp gray eyes, which gleamed with restless calculation. A long stem of dried grass curled between his lips—though strangely, the blade twisted and writhed of its own accord, subtly clinging to him like it recognized him as kin.
Across from him, Tanti stood like a fortress. His bulky arms were folded, muscles bulging beneath a thick leather vest. Every breath he took seemed to deepen the silence in the room. He said little, but when he did, his voice struck like a war drum—deep, commanding, and final. Even the soldiers outside seemed to move with more discipline when he spoke.
Allie sat straight-backed in a worn chair, her soft brown hair brushing her shoulders. She was the healer, her aura gentle but undeniably strained. Her hands, usually so steady when tending to wounds, now trembled ever so slightly as she traced the inked lines of the map. She wasn't a warrior by nature—but she knew she'd be needed on the battlefield soon.
Then there was Thilde. She stood at the mayor's side like a sentinel. Her long black hair was tied back in a severe braid, and her golden-amber eyes gleamed beneath the flickering lanterns. A thin scar ran down her jaw—an old wound that added to her stern, unyielding aura. Her gaze swept the room, sharp and penetrating, as if she could see straight into a person's soul.
"The latest report is… unexpected," the mayor began, his voice hoarse. "We lost seven scouting parties just two hours ago."
A cold silence dropped like a blade.
"Twenty-three dead," the mayor continued. "Forty-seven injured. They were ambushed on the northern ridge. Slaughtered by—" He paused, his jaw tightening. "—by the Rust."
The mayor trembled at the thought that their town, still far from the corrosion, was already encountering these monstrous creatures. Although they had confirmed the presence of the Dawn Order in town and expected to clash with another Awakened from that organization, they hadn't anticipated facing these unruly monsters first. Thankfully, he trusted his judgment and requested backup as soon as possible—had they been even a little later, the town might have already been reduced to rubble..
Grayson pulled the stem from his lips, flicking it aside. His gray eyes lit up with a mix of irritation and amusement. "Well, that's just charming," he muttered. "They really brought those damned things here? Guess they're dead set on turning this town into a graveyard."
Thilde's voice cut through the air like tempered steel. "Just as we expected, they were really hiding something, though I didn't guess it would be this. But they are able to bring these things. Could it be that they've sent a commander from the Dawn Order?" Her amber eyes gleamed. "Though he seems… reckless. They revealed themselves immediately after we arrived. What could they be planning?"
"Well, whatever it is, we need to deal with it now," Tanti rumbled, stepping forward. "We don't need a repeat of what happened to those other towns they razed to the ground. The soldiers out there won't last against the Rust. If we don't act, they'll be slaughtered."
Allie swallowed. "Then… shouldn't it be better if we consolidate instead? Bring everyone inside and focus on defending the town? We are both facing the Rust and members of the Order," She looked to the mayor. "Unlike them, we're stretched too thin. The town should be our stronghold. Leaving them out will only cause more casualties, we can't waste more lives."
The mayor nodded solemnly. "I think that's better too. I've already ordered Captain Rither to pull the remaining patrols back. There's more. The bandits have started moving down from the mountains. The Rust was only the beginning."
"Alright, let's go with that. They probably want to bleed us dry before the real assault," Thilde murmured, her arms crossed. "Mayor, since you've already sent people to monitor their movement, how much time do we still have?"
The mayor pointed at the map, outlining the enemy encroachment. "It's been half an hour since this came. We should still have about an hour before they reach us. Don't worry—the necessary preparations to protect the town have long been completed. All we need to do now is stop them from entering. Using the traps we've set, we can weaken them gradually. The problem is the monsters they've brought. That's where we'll need your help."
"Alright, leave it to us," Tanti nodded, stretching his bulging arm, strength gathering in his stance.
"Well, you handle the monsters. I'll set more traps to slow them," Grayson added, slamming a thick finger onto the map. "It's better to reduce their numbers early. They've got more men, and the fewer that reach our walls, the fewer casualties we suffer."
"Then you do that," Thilde said. She turned to the mayor. "What about the rats in town? They'll likely try to cause chaos in the middle of the assault."
"I've already handled them. We've stationed people to ensure they won't be able to act. At this point, I might as well imprison them."
The four Awakened nodded.
The mayor turned to his aides. "Start preparations. Distribute weapons, double the perimeter guard. Recruit anyone who can help—even if it's just to carry supplies or tend to the wounded, if the battle broke out. The night is still long. This is war now."
As he gave instructions—
BOOM.
A loud explosion resounded.
The floor quaked beneath them. A blast rocked the building. The glass behind Grayson shattered into a scream of shards. Smoke billowed in from outside as a roaring flame bloomed against the darkened sky.
They all turned, hearts slamming into their throats.
Out the window, fire clawed at the neighboring structure. Black smoke curled high, silhouetted against the blinking red stone above.
"Oh! Is it starting already?" Grayson muttered, shielding his face from the glass.
Thilde's eyes narrowed, her voice sharp. "Where did that explosion come from?"
The mayor rushed to the window, his breath catching.
His voice came out with confused, strangled—recognition.
"That… that was the prison."