The idea that a trainee could be his own leader stunned everyone into silence.
The one-armed veteran could barely believe his ears. What kind of absurdity is this? he thought. He had been serving in the organization for decades, climbing the hard road to reach the third rank, earning his scars and medals through sweat and blood. Yet now someone was telling him that a student still preparing for his entrance exams was his superior?
"That would mean he's a fourth-level Silver Dragon Guard!" the man muttered in disbelief, rubbing his forehead. "That's the same rank as Commander Tu Wuji!"
To explain a bit, the "Dragon Cave" organization had a unique system. In order to prevent favoritism or nepotism, each rank wasn't just based on political connections — it required combat power and achievement. To qualify for a fourth-level rank, one had to complete at least a third-rank mission, a feat that demanded overwhelming strength and tactical skill.
So how could a student, barely out of training, possibly meet such a standard?
"It's impossible," the man said flatly. "Absolutely impossible!"
He slammed his hand on the table, then disconnected the communication link in frustration. The bearded instructor, who had been overseeing the call, sighed deeply. "That kid's sharp as a blade," he murmured, "he wouldn't just fall to some random accident in a secret realm."
Still, suspicion filled the air. If Ethan wasn't some secret protégé or the illegitimate son of a high official, then how could he rise so quickly? Maybe he had backing from the Gatekeeper Division — a powerful internal faction within the organization.
The one-armed man frowned. "No," he muttered, "I don't buy it. There's no way I'd lose to some rookie student. Something's off."
---
Meanwhile, reports were flying in. The guards had been ordered to hold back the wave of wild monsters that were closing in on the outpost. Old King — the local commander of Ravenshade — listened carefully to the emergency report. His eyes flickered with both worry and curiosity.
"It seems Ethan is more important than I thought," the old king murmured gravely. "We can't let anything happen to him."
Without hesitation, he gave his orders. "Pull all forces from the secret realm. Form a full defensive line at the front!"
Auxiliary specialists rushed into position, casting enhancement spells and boosting morale across the ranks. The members of Dragon Cave, the elite tactical unit, were scattered among the king's guard divisions to balance their formation.
Inside his mask, the one-armed captain spoke firmly through his communicator: "Our priority remains the same — we handle the alien threat. These wild monsters are for the guards to deal with. Is that clear?"
"Yes, sir!" dozens of voices replied in unison.
"If you're in danger," the captain added, "notify your nearest ally. Don't act alone. Understood?"
"Understood!" came the loud response.
---
Moments later, the wild monsters appeared over the hills, their numbers blackening the horizon. They were enormous, snarling beasts — far higher in level than what anyone in Ravenshade usually encountered.
The ground trembled beneath their advance. As they approached, the air itself seemed to grow heavier with their killing intent. The soldiers in the front line could feel the suffocating pressure closing in.
"Steady your shields!" a commander shouted.
The melee troops locked shields, forming a solid wall of steel. Spears pointed forward like a thousand thorns, while long-range fighters behind them readied their spells.
When the monsters entered range, the mages unleashed their first volley — a storm of elemental power. Fireballs, lightning arcs, and shards of ice exploded across the battlefield.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The air lit up in a symphony of destruction, but the monsters only slowed, not stopped. The ground shook as the second wave of beasts trampled their fallen kin into the mud.
Seeing this, Old King changed tactics immediately. "Stop wasting energy on heavy damage spells!" he roared. "Use binding magic, traps, and slow barriers! Make the monsters kill their own!"
The soldiers obeyed, switching from offense to defense. Magic circles flared on the ground, binding the feet of the leading beasts. The ones behind, unable to stop, crashed into them, creating chaos among their ranks.
Still, the old king couldn't help but curse under his breath. "If only we'd set traps earlier…" He clenched his jaw. "That would've saved hundreds of lives."
---
Soon, the battle turned into a full hand-to-hand slaughter.
"Kill!!!" someone shouted, and the command echoed like thunder.
The front line erupted. The clang of metal, the screams of dying men and beasts — the battlefield became a giant meat grinder.
The vanguard monsters were swift predators, leaping like shadows, their claws slicing through armor. Yet the guards held firm, shields raised, spears thrusting in perfect rhythm.
But when the heavier and stronger monsters joined the fray, the balance began to crumble.
Guards started falling — one by one at first, then by dozens.
Old King saw the line faltering. Without hesitation, he pulled out a golden scroll, its surface etched with divine inscriptions that shimmered with sacred light.
He tore it open.
A surge of golden radiance shot into the sky, raining down upon the battlefield like heavenly fire. The guards' armor and shields were instantly covered in golden phantoms, glowing brighter with each heartbeat.
When the next monster's claws struck, sparks flew — but the shields held firm. The golden aura had multiplied their defense several times over.
"Hold the line!" the old king bellowed. "Don't let them break through!"
The soldiers roared in reply, renewed by the divine energy coursing through them.
For a brief moment, the defense held strong again.
Yet even with the holy protection, the front line paid a heavy price. Within ten minutes, over a third of the melee fighters lay dead, their bodies trampled under the chaos.
Ravenshade had sent over eight thousand guards, a force that could defend a small city. But across the field, twenty thousand wild monsters advanced like a living tide.
Behind the lines, exhausted mages switched to enchanted crossbows, firing glowing bolts when their mana ran dry. The air whistled with each shot, felling beast after beast. Slowly, the number of enemies began to drop.
There was a spark of hope. "We might actually win this!" someone cried.
But then—
A deep, earth-shaking roar echoed from the rear of the monster horde.
From the dust emerged a new enemy — towering mammoth giants, each one as tall as a building, tusks sharp as lances. Their heavy steps made the ground quake.
"Gods help us…" someone whispered.
The old king's expression darkened. He reached once more into his robes and drew out a second scroll — this one marked with a sinister, grinning face.
The nearby healers gasped. "Commander, don't! That's forbidden magic!"
One of the female clerics rushed forward to stop him, but the old king's eyes, calm yet sorrowful, stopped her in her tracks.
He smiled faintly. "It's all right."
Looking around at his soldiers, he found his deputy among the ranks. "Listen carefully," he said. "If I fall today, the Temple of Job Change in Ravenshade will be under your command. Promise me you'll protect it."
The deputy's throat tightened, but he nodded.
The old king chuckled softly. "I've lived long enough. If I'm to die, let it be before my people's eyes, not in the shadows."
He turned back to the army. His voice carried across the battlefield. "Our Temple of Job Change is not just a decoration! We are not vases to be admired — we stand, we fight, and we protect this world!"
The soldiers straightened. Even amidst exhaustion and fear, their spirits blazed anew.
The old king raised the cursed scroll high. As he tore it open, a surge of dark crimson energy exploded into the sky, painting the battlefield blood-red. The mammoth giants roared in fury as a black storm of power engulfed them.
And then — silence.
Only the beating of hearts remained, echoing through the smoke and fire.
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