The battle lasted for about 40 to 50 minutes, a real test of strength for the fighters. Despite the exhaustion, Yuno and Rasolina had considered using other skills, but seeing that Samuel's plan was working perfectly, they chose to stick to the strategy without adding any unnecessary complications.
Little by little, the monsters became fewer and fewer. The few survivors, gravely wounded, fled into the dense forest, leaping over the bodies of their fallen comrades. Their bodies, almost like shadows, dissipated into the darkness of the forest, trying to escape an inevitable defeat.
Canon, Yuno, Dante, and Rasolina were out of breath, sweat beading on their foreheads, but they were relieved to have survived this trial. Never had they faced such a large number of enemies in such a short time. But despite the fatigue, their minds remained alert, ready to react to any danger.
Eventually, they were joined by Samuel, Kai, Relia, and the rest of the team, accompanied by the village chief. Seeing the condition of the fighters, a grateful smile spread across his face.
"Well done, my friends," he said in a strong voice, his gratitude palpable. "According to past attacks, the packs only strike once a day, a single assault. So we've succeeded in holding them off, and we have each one of you to thank for it. Well done !"
Samuel, Helydia, Kai, and Relia then stepped forward, offering their congratulations to Canon and Dante. "You did an excellent job," Relia said with a smile. "We couldn't have asked for better."
The village chief, still full of gratitude, spoke again: "You've shown us that we can hold out until reinforcements arrive. You've done more than fend off this threat; you've given hope to an entire village." He then turned to Samuel. "I particularly want to thank Samuel for this well-thought-out plan. It's because of him that we're still here."
At these words, everyone began to applaud. Samuel, however, stood there, brow furrowed, clearly uncomfortable with the attention. He wasn't the type to seek glory, and this made him uneasy. However, a slight smile passed over his face, difficult to notice under his usual mask of coldness.
Meanwhile, the guards arrived, starting to finish off the monsters still trapped in Rasolina's silver spheres. A few creatures, still alive but terribly weakened, lay inside these metallic orbs. Canon, ever efficient, approached and finished off the last remaining creatures. The mutilated bodies fell in splashes of blood and flesh.
"Our day is saved thanks to you," the chief continued, watching the team. "You did an incredible job. You pushed back this threat much more effectively than we had hoped."
The sense of victory was palpable. The fighters felt exhausted but proud, and Samuel, though preferring to stay discreet, couldn't help but feel satisfied. Their teamwork, their strategy, and their ability to stay focused had allowed them to push back the enemy. But Samuel knew this was just a small victory. He turned his gaze towards the horizon, already preparing for tomorrow.