In the distance, beyond the fields and pastures, the tree line of the Eastern Woodlands loomed like a dark threshold. Even in broad daylight, it stretched into a void of uncertainty.
Reports confirmed that high-ranking hunters were battling a massive Falzath deep within those woods, far beyond their reach.
Shin assumed that was the same monster George and his team had been sent after. If that were true, then what was this abomination before them?
Suddenly, the ground lurched violently, a force akin to an earthquake shaking the entire town. Buildings groaned under the stress, tiles and wooden beams crashing into the streets.
People screamed, some falling to their knees as the tremors sent shockwaves through their bodies. Cobblestone paths cracked, dust billowing into the air as the violent shaking seemed endless.
The quake lasted several moments before the tremors gradually subsided. As the shaking ceased, an eerie silence fell over the town, broken only by distant cries and the groaning of weakened structures, followed by the sky turning red.
As he regained his footing, Shin's eyes widened. Beyond the rolling chaos, the woods glowed with an eerie light, a sinister beacon amidst the destruction.
Then, through the thick haze of dust and smoke, he saw them. Falzath swarming toward the town. Among them were creatures he had never encountered before—small, raptor-like beasts with elongated limbs and mantis-like blades protruding from their shoulders. Their sickly green carapaces glistened under the fractured sunlight.
"Damn it," Shin muttered. "Sicklefangs."
The Sicklefangs moved in coordinated packs, their shrill screeches cutting through the air. They devoured everything in their path, leaving only bloodied remains behind.
Shin's sharp gaze followed their movements, noting their trajectory. They were heading straight for the town's entrance. Alarm bells rang furiously from the watchtowers, signaling the inevitable battle.
Guards and hunters scrambled to their positions, barricades hastily erected as archers took to the rooftops. Blacksmiths, merchants, and civilians armed themselves with whatever they could find.
The town was no longer just a settlement. It had become a battlefield. The true invasion had begun.
Shin and Laverna quickly convened in the Mayor's Office, their minds racing. Before they could act, the Mayor rushed in, his face pale with fear. "What's the plan?" he demanded.
Shin's eyes landed on a diorama of the town atop the Mayor's desk. He stepped forward, running his fingers over the miniature streets and walls, mapping out the battle in his mind. Beckoning the Mayor closer, he said, "We'll use this as our battle map."
He pointed toward the town's entrance. "That's where they'll hit first. We reinforce that position. Barricades, archers, and spearmen. If we hold them there, we might stand a chance."
The Mayor gave a sharp nod and relayed orders. "You heard him! Reinforce the entrance! Get those barricades up! Archers, take position on the rooftops!" he barked, his voice carrying through the chaos.
A grizzled hunter stepped forward, gripping his bow tightly. "Do we have enough men to hold them off?" he asked, worry etched on his face.
Shin's gaze remained on the diorama. "We don't have a choice. We hold them here, or we lose everything."
Laverna crossed her arms, her voice firm. "Then we fight like hell."
Townsfolk and warriors alike moved with urgency, fortifying the defenses where Shin predicted the onslaught would begin.
All able-bodied individuals picked up weapons, steeling themselves for the coming fight. Women, children, the sick, and the elderly were quickly ushered into the Mayor's Office, their frightened whispers filling the air as they were led to safety.
Meanwhile, those who volunteered to fight took a final moment with their loved ones. Whispered farewells, lingering embraces, and silent prayers filled the streets as they prepared for what could be their last stand.
Shin and Laverna stood on the balcony of the Mayor's Office, watching the scene unfold below. Laverna's hands clenched into fists at her sides, her breath shaky.
This sight—families torn apart by powerful forces—was far too familiar. It was a past she had buried, yet the trauma still clawed at her heart.
Shin noticed the tension in her posture. He stepped closer, his voice low yet firm. "We'll get through this. You're not alone."
Laverna swallowed hard, her gaze meeting his. There was something in his eyes, an unwavering certainty, a quiet promise. She exhaled, nodding, though the weight in her chest remained.
The moment lingered between them, unspoken emotions tightening the air. Then, the alarm bells shattered the silence, forcing them back into the reality of war.
The town was ready for the onslaught. Defenses had been reinforced, and every fighter was in position, weapons gripped tightly. The tension thickened, a collective breath held before the storm of battle began.
Shin's heart pounded as the monsters neared. His voice echoed. "Weapons ready! Fire on my mark!"
As soon as the Falzath neared the town, Shin shouted. "Fire!". In an instant, arrows, spears, and bullets flew. Mages pointed forward, unleashing their magic on the Falzath horde.
Overcompensating for the inexperience of other citizens, their shots struck the Falzath in a relentless barrage. The Sicklefangs were wounded but did not stop.
Shin and Laverna watched as the battle unfolded, but then their eyes locked onto something more ominous—a massive Sicklefang standing at the edge of the battlefield. Larger, stronger, and more intelligent, it surveyed the carnage like a warlord overseeing its troops.
"That's the leader," Shin said, gripping a spear tightly. "If we take it down, this ends here."
Laverna nodded. "Then let's not waste time."
The Sicklefangs' numbers were dwindling, but there were still too many. Shin knew they couldn't afford to stay here much longer. He took a slow breath, centering himself. It was time to move.
Before stepping forward, Shin murmured a quiet prayer, his voice barely audible over the chaos, sticking the spear he was holding on the ground. Laverna, standing beside him, hesitated before closing her eyes and whispering her own, a gesture of respect rather than faith.
The orb in his grasp pulsed in response, shifting and elongating until Yoshimatsu took form in his left hand. Its edge gleamed under the blood-red sky, crackling with latent power, ready to carve a path through the horde.
Shin smirked. "Stick close. Follow my lead."
Laverna rolled her shoulders. "If I were any closer, I'd be inside your shadow."
With a chuckle, Shin lunged forward, and Laverna followed. Together, they cut through the Sicklefang horde with lethal precision, a seamless dance of death.
The townspeople watched in awe, their spirits bolstered. The Mayor seized the moment. "We push forward! Show them what Valdorne is made of!"
Cheers erupted, and the people fought with renewed vigor.
Shin and Laverna reached the leader after tearing a few more lesser Sicklefangs.
It shrieked, its serrated blades slicing through the air as it lunged at him. Shin twisted mid-step, narrowly dodging the deadly arc before slashing upward, sparks flying as his blade clashed against the creature's carapace.
Laverna darted around to its flank, her daggers flashing as she aimed for its joints. The Sicklefang snarled and swiped at her, forcing her to backflip out of reach. Shin seized the opening, dashing in low and carving a deep gash across its abdomen. Black ichor spewed from the wound, but the beast refused to falter.
With a guttural roar, it swung both of its massive blades at Shin, who barely managed to parry, the force sending tremors up his arms. Laverna leapt onto its back, plunging her daggers into the base of its skull. It shrieked and twisted violently, trying to shake her off.
"Hold on!" Shin yelled as he activated Yoshimatsu's High Frequency mode. The blade crackled with crimson lightning, vibrating at an intense frequency. With a single precise strike, he severed one of its bladed arms clean off. The Sicklefang stumbled, screeching in pain.
Laverna took the opportunity, twisting her daggers deeper before flipping off the beast. Shin stepped in, delivering the final blow—a devastating downward slash that split the creature's head in two. The leader crumpled, its body twitching before finally going still.
The battlefield fell into a brief silence. Then, as if sensing their leader's demise, the remaining Sicklefangs hesitated before retreating into the forest.
Shin exhaled, flicking his wrist to remove the ichor clinging to Yoshimatsu, his blade returning to its scabbard with a crisp, controlled snap. Laverna did the same with her daggers before sheathing them. "It's over. For now."
But before they could catch their breath, a deep, guttural roar echoed through the air. It was unlike anything they had ever heard, more primal, more monstrous than the Sicklefangs. The very ground beneath them seemed to tremble in response.
Shin and Laverna exchanged wary glances. "That wasn't a Sicklefang," Laverna murmured, her grip tightening on her weapons.
Shin's red eyes narrowed as he scanned the distant tree line. "No," he agreed. "It wasn't."