When we finally returned to our village, the sun had long disappeared beyond the horizon, surrendering to the pale glow of the rising moon. Weariness hung heavy upon us as we continued our hurried movement towards the gate, our footsteps echoing in the stillness of the night.

As we approached the gate, Wesley and Mr. Lowe stood there, silhouetted against the moonlit sky. There was a heaviness in the air, a sense of foreboding that hung over us like a shroud.

The Andrade family, the ones we had discovered on the desolate highway, had arrived before us. Mr. Lowe, with a gaze that that reflected how seriously he took his job as sergeant-at-arms, thankfully had listened to them and that’s why they had been waiting up for us.

Wesley, his face fixed with concern, turned to me as we approached. The weight of responsibility settled upon his broad shoulders. "Cade," he said, his voice filled with urgency, "Thanks for sending the Andrades on ahead. If this is happening, then the System is really upping its game against us. Against humanity.”

I nodded, my heart sinking with the weight of their words. Neither the Andrade's village nor the one we had visited earlier were small or weak. Yet, they had been crushed effortlessly, their existence reduced to ruins. The enormity of the challenge ahead was massive.

Mr. Lowe, his eyes weary but determined, spoke up, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade. "If it tore up two villages and killed most of the people, we need to fight them somewhere else. Anywhere else but here.”

The gravity of the situation settled upon us like a suffocating fog, but amidst the despair, a flicker of resilience ignited inside me. I turned to my companions, their faces reflecting a mix of apprehension and determination. We had come too far to give in to fear now.

"We've gone on far enough on our own," I declared, my voice steady despite the turmoil within. "This news is too important. We must unite the other villages, pool our resources, and prepare for the battle ahead. Armadon may be formidable, but I’ll be damned if we’ll give in to despair now."

Hanna, her eyes glinting with unwavering resolve, stepped forward. "Cade's right. We've seen its devastation. We can't let it happen to our home. We'll do whatever it takes to protect our village."

Around that time Sarah joined us, groggy, as though she’d just woken up. Mr. Lowe gave Wesley a grudging nod, “Sounds there’s a lot of decisions to be made. Y’all let us know what to expect. For now, I’ll double the guards on the walls.”

Following Wesley, I trudged up the stairs, my heart pounding with premonition. The council chambers were shrouded in an eerie stillness until Sarah touched a mana globe, spreading soft light around the room.

Taking my seat, I looked around at the others - Wesley calm but serious, Hanna determined, Jayden pensive, Sarah poised. Though just kids, the fate of our village rested on our shoulders.

Wesley spoke first. "We can't fight Armadon alone. We need reinforcements, but we must be smart."

Hanna's eyes flashed. "Yeah, this isn't just about us fighters. Let's get real about what we're up against."

Jayden stroked his chin. "Armadon's dangerous. We can't be reckless."

Sarah added, "Study it. Be strategic."

Stress weighed on me. This was a pivotal moment. I took a breath. "We need a plan, not blind action. This is make or break for us."

Hanna nodded urgently. "We need our allies - Lake Village and Fort Point. Together we can stand against Armadon."

I gripped the table. "Right. We can't underestimate it. We need to fortify, gather forces, coordinate with our neighbors. It's our best shot."

Wesley agreed. "Cade's right. Let's activate our defense pact and pool resources. With a smart plan, we have a chance."

I sighed, relieved. The battle would be tough, but with our allies and a sound strategy, we had hope.

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Wesley and I arrived at Lake Village shortly after the sun had come up, the gray morning sky casting a somber tone over the village. Mayor Emory Parker stood in the village center wringing his hands, “Your note reached me just a few minutes ago, Wesley. What the hell is an Armadon?”

Wesley set his shield on the steps of the small stone church that was village square’s focal point, “A monster of epic proportions. But let’s wait for the council members from Fort Point.”

From across the square a booming voice echoed, “What’s up with the cryptic message, Wes?”

I turned toward the voice, my gaze fixed on the approaching figures. Striding across the grassy square were John Thompson, a rugged and weathered veteran whom I thought of as Fort Point's war leader, and Zachary Connolly, who filled the same role for their village as Wesley did for ours.

Wesley's eyes met John's as they approached. "John, Zachary," Wesley greeted them, his tone serious and measured. "Glad you could make it. We have urgent matters to discuss."

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

John's deep voice reverberated through the square as he clasped Wesley's hand in a firm handshake. "Wesley, good to see you. What's this all about?"

Zachary nodded in greeting, his piercing gaze sweeping over the surroundings. "Morning, Wesley. I hope it's worth dragging us out of our village at this hour."

Mayor Parker motioned toward the church, his voice carrying a note of urgency. "Let's head inside. If Wesley’s missive is correct, we have a lot to discuss."

We followed Mayor Emory Parker into the church, the heavy wooden doors creaking as they swung open, revealing a dimly lit interior. The air was heavy with apprehension, as if the walls themselves were aware of the weighty matters on our minds.

The pews had been pushed against the walls and the mayor had set up a large wooden table in the center of the church, strewn with maps, some Systemized and others showing the tell-tale signs of premature aging.

As we took our seats around the table, the mayor's gaze scanned the room, his expression filled with a mix of curiosity and concern. "Now tell us, what the hell is an Armadon?"

Wesley's eyes met the mayor's. "Armadon is a monster of epic proportions. It has been wreaking havoc on villages to our north, leaving destruction in its wake. Cade has witnessed its power firsthand."

The weight of everyone’s gaze fell upon me. I cleared my throat, summoning the courage to speak. "Armadon is unlike anything we've ever encountered. It's a massive creature, resembling a colossal armadillo, but far more terrifying. Its size alone is enough to make your blood run cold."

Seeing looks of confusion on the faces around me, I added, "And its destructive power is beyond anything we've ever seen. It demolishes villages, leaving nothing but ruins and death in its wake."

Mayor Parker leaned forward, his hands gripping the edge of the table. "How do we defend ourselves against such a creature?"

Wesley chose his words carefully. "Armadon may be formidable, but we are not without resources. Our villages have many skilled fighters. While we may not have trained for something like Armadon, we have trained and by pooling our recourses we can figure out a plan to defeat this beast.

The room fell into a contemplative silence as the gravity of our situation sank in. Zachary leaned forward, his voice filled with concern. "This monster is beyond any one of our villages. I’m sure you had this in mind, Wes, when you roused us.”

Wesley nodded, his gaze shifting from the mayor to the other council members gathered around the table. "You’re not wrong. We need to mobilize our alliance. Armadon threatens us all.”

My eyes shifted to maps laying atop the table. To the north were the villages wrecked by the Armadon. To our west, in town, was Henderson Manor, which held several hundred people. And to our east, was the village of Sun Valley. My voice was uncertain, even though I had the germ of an idea, “Mr. Thompson, how well do you know the folks over in Sun Valley?”

John glanced down at the map, as if following my thoughts, “Under normal circumstances, I’d say not that well. But something that threatens one village, threatens all. They may consider joining us, at least for now.”

His finger pointed at Henderson Manor in the heart of the old downtown, “How well do you know these folks?”

My mind raced, as I tried to think about our village’s needs and how they were at odds with the Squire of Henderson Manor. He wanted Columbia village added to the manor’s territory. We wanted to grow big enough to unlock the quest to establish our own manor. Moreover, we would need Lake Village and Fort Point to expand. And that’s something we hadn’t mentioned to them.

“Um, not that well,” I said, hoping my voice didn’t sound evasive.

Wesley came to my rescue, “We’re all in the same boat. If the Squire of Henderson Manor sees that his village is threatened by Armadon, I think he’ll see the advantage in teaming up with us.”

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Late the next morning, the sun cast its pale light upon the stones of our village’s gatehouse. I stood there, my eyes scanning the roadway, waiting for the arrival of villagers from Lake Village and Fort Point. Even though part of me kept wondering when I’d see the first signs of people coming down the road, my mind was consumed by thoughts of Hanna. My teenaged infatuation of her was a thing of the past. No, the reason I worried is she was out there, one of our scouts tracking Armadon, and I couldn't help but worry about her.

Beside me, Wesley leaned against the stone wall, scanning the road, too. He wore his armor, ready to head out in a moment’s notice. All we were missing were the fighters from the other villages. That, and the location of the Armadon.

Lost in my thoughts, I turned to Wesley, my voice earnest and tinged with worry. "You know, Wesley, I can't help but think about Hanna. She's out there, you know, tracking Armadon with the other scouts. I hope they're okay and that they find what we need to defeat that monster."

Wesley's gaze met mine, concern in his eyes. "I know exactly what you mean, Cade. Hanna is as tough as nails, but it's hard not to worry when she's out there facing such a terrifying creature, especially without the rest of us. All I can do is believe in her skills and pray that she comes back safe with the information we need.”

The arrival of the villagers from Lake Village and Fort Point was a sight to behold. As they streamed in from the western road, I couldn't help but marvel at the sheer number of people that filled the path. It seemed like a small army had descended upon us.

Amidst the bustling crowd, I caught sight of John Thompson, the seasoned veteran from Fort Point. With a mixture of curiosity and awe, I made my way towards him, eager to learn more about the influx of people and the sudden increase in our combined forces.

"John," I called out, my voice filled with youthful excitement. "I can't believe how many people are here! It's incredible!"

John turned towards me, his weathered face breaking into a knowing smile. He nodded, his eyes filled with a hint of pride. "Yeah, Cade, it's quite a sight, isn't it? The folks from Sun Valley decided to join us. They didn't fancy staying on their own with Armadon on the loose, so they’ve thrown in with us.”

Enthusiastic about getting underway, I grabbed John by the arm, “Come on, let’s show you what we’ve done in preparation for your arrival.”

We had filled almost every open space in the village with more systemized housing made out of wood and stone. We’d built all we could, going so far to as to deplete our stock of wood and stone. As I pulled John behind, I pointed out the changes we’d made. The outer walls on all four sides were adorned with new systemized houses. Sure, our civilians and children might be stacked up like cord wood, but everyone should have a roof over their heads.

John’s head whipped one way and then the next as he examined what we’d done. “That area over there, wasn’t that a training field? Now it’s more housing. Y’all have gone all out.”

As we looked around, seeing families settling into their temporary homes, I felt a surge of pride. We were creating a place where people could find sanctuary. “We wanted everyone to have a place until Armadon has been destroyed.”

We were still getting people settled into their temporary shelters, when I heard Mr. Lowe’s voice, “It’s Hanna! She’s back.”

My heart raced as Hanna and another scout, their faces grimy and sweaty burst through the gates and into the village. The shift in the atmosphere was almost instant and a wave of unease rippled through the crowd. Hanna’s voice cut through the silence, her words carrying a weight that sent shivers down my spine. "We found it. Armadon. And it's heading straight for Henderson Manor."