Moonlight provided little illumination as Victor walked along the perimeter of the village, clad in leather armour with a spear in hand.
Once in a while, he would pass other guards patrolling the wall. They would exchange glances before continuing on their way.
He couldn't wait to be done with his shift and return to the barracks to continue playing cards with the others. What bad luck for his turn to come just when he started winning!
The village was unusually quiet, as it was the middle of the night, with morning still a few hours away. Victor glanced toward the forest every so often, scanning for any signs of movement. He might grumble about his duties, but when it came to fulfilling them, he was diligent.
Despite the darkness, his Night Vision skill allowed him to see as clearly as in daylight. So, when kobolds burst from the forest, sprinting across the grasslands toward the village, he immediately knew something was wrong.
He shouted, "Sound the alarms! Monsters—an army of them!" before sprinting toward the village walls.
The wooden barrier, barely two and a half meters high, wasn't much, but it was still better than facing hundreds of bloodthirsty, dog-faced monsters out in the open.
As he ran, he heard the tell-tale clang of bells ringing from the outposts, likely waking every last villager. He reached the gates ahead of the kobolds and rushed inside with the other guards, retreating to the relative safety of the village.
The doors slammed shut behind him.
"I want every single one of you on the walls this instant!" Victor heard Tom's voice cut through the night, already taking command. His words carried a flood of determination, resolve, and the sheer will to protect.
He must have empowered his command with a Leadership skill, Victor thought, rushing to take his place on the wall.
…
Peter woke up to the sound of bells ringing and people shouting. A burst of Undying Vitality cleared away any trace of sleep fatigue as he climbed out of bed.
He spread his Mana Sense through Aunt Amelia's house and immediately picked up a fast-approaching female figure, moving swiftly toward his room. He didn't have to wait long. Mariah opened the door and rushed inside.
"What's happening?" he asked, catching the grim look on her face.
"The village is under attack," Mariah said, handing him his leather armour. Sensing the urgency, Peter asked no further questions and focused on putting on the armour.
"Meet me outside once you're done changing. And keep your sword in hand," she instructed before turning to leave, likely heading off to gear up herself. Worry itched on her face.
…
Peter followed his mother downstairs, finding Aunt Amelia anxiously waiting for them. She immediately turned toward them as they approached.
"It's the kobolds. I must join the others right away to help the guards protect the walls—they'll need my healing," she said hurriedly. It was the first time Peter had seen the priestess look genuinely worried.
Her familiar sat two steps away, poised to defend her if needed.
"I know you're not much of a fighter, Mariah," Amelia said while heading for the door, with the pair following closely behind.
It was true. Unlike the village, cities had knights, adventurers, and large numbers of guards to protect their citizens behind solid stone walls.
"Everyone must play a part. I may not be able to fight, but someone has to watch the kids," Mariah reasoned, volunteering for the task while others went to face the monsters and defend their home. She must stay strong. Especially with Joseph's absence.
"Very well. I must take my leave, then," the priestess of Avaris nodded, moving swiftly toward the village walls.
Peter glanced around and saw others emerging from their homes, donning similar leather armour and having similar discussions.
"Everyone! The guards need us on the walls. If kobolds get inside, no one will be safe!" Amelia roared, her soul flaring with supernatural intensity, magnifying her presence. She was no ordinary woman. As an unusual-grade class holder with a high Spirit stat, her soul was strong enough to affect reality when she imposed her will.
"Mariah has offered to take care of the children. Let us fight to protect them from these bloodthirsty lowlifes!" Her words had an immediate effect. Almost everyone with a class moved to join her, rushing to reinforce the village defences. Some mothers stayed behind, bringing their small children to Mariah for safety.
Peter stepped forward to follow his aunt, but Mariah gently rested her palm on his shoulder, stopping him. "You've only just gotten your class. Stay with me," she pleaded, her voice almost breaking.
"But even David went. I can fight too," Peter protested weakly.
"David is the youngest, and still three years older than you, Peter. Your father is already out there, fighting for both of us. You don't need to do anything foolish. Stay with me." The fate of her husband was unknown, she would not allow the same with her son.
…
Amelia patiently watched as Tom directed people to different posts based on their weapons and expertise, while kobolds constantly tried to scale the wall. Things were bad. The wall wouldn't hold for much longer, despite them killing the hungry mutts.
The monsters kept coming from the forest, climbing atop the bodies of their dead brethren in a relentless effort to reach the humans above.
"Where is Joseph?" she asked, once Tom was done giving orders. The only reply she got was a dark look on his face. She could piece it together.
"So, he was in the woods?" she sighed, murmuring a prayer to the Trinity, hoping for a miracle.
Tom nodded, looking a decade older in just a few seconds. "With seventeen others. The chances of them surviving something like this…such a large gathering of sentient monsters, are next to nothing."
Amelia sighed. "To think an undiscovered dungeon was hidden deep in the forest for so long and no one knew…"
"A dungeon, you say?" Tom probed, latching onto the word, hoping she could offer more information they could use to protect the village. Common folk might not be so aware, but as a priestess of the Church, she was far more educated on such matters.