The first blow came at dawn. A distant war horn shattered the frosty silence, followed by the rhythmic stomp of boots crunching over snow. From his post at the eastern wall, John squinted through the morning mist and saw the faint outlines of the raiders emerging from the tree line.
There were far more than the scout had warned, closer to forty than thirty. They carried crude but effective weapons, axes, swords, and spears gleaming in the weak sunlight. Their leader stood tall at the front, clad in patchwork armor and wielding a massive two-handed axe.
“Well, that’s horrifying,” John muttered, tightening his grip on his spear.
Freya stood beside him on the wall, her wild blonde hair tied back, her double-headed axe resting casually on her shoulder. Despite the tension in the air, she grinned.
“Scared yet, Bone Caller?”
John snorted. “Terrified. But let’s pretend I’m not for morale’s sake.”
Freya laughed, but her eyes remained locked on the advancing raiders. “Good. Keep that fear. It’ll keep you alive.”
“Thanks for the pep talk, coach,” John said, rolling his shoulders. “Let’s get this over with.”
Bjorn’s voice roared from the center of the village. “Hold your positions! Let them come to us!”
The raiders charged as soon as they were within range, shouting bloodthirsty war cries. The villagers held steady, archers loosing arrows from the safety of the walls. A few raiders fell, clutching their throats or chests, but the rest surged forward undeterred.
“Skeleton time,” John said, stepping forward. He focused, summoning his first undead.
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[RAISE UNDEAD ACTIVATED]
Mana Cost: 20
Remaining Mana: 80
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The skeleton clawed its way out of the snow, clutching a rusted sword. John wasted no time summoning a second, then activated Gravebond to boost their strength.
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[GRAVEBOND ACTIVATED]
Mana Cost: 10
Remaining Mana: 50
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“Go!” John shouted, pointing toward the advancing raiders. The skeletons charged, their glowing eyes fixed on their targets.
The first skeleton collided with a raider, its sword slashing through the man’s thigh. The raider screamed, swinging his axe wildly, but the skeleton ducked and drove its blade into his stomach.
The second skeleton wasn’t as lucky. A raider’s mace shattered its skull with a sickening crunch, sending bone fragments flying.
“Dammit,” John muttered. “Freya, remind me to put helmets on these guys.”
Freya smirked, but her grin quickly faded as the raiders reached the wall. “No time for jokes, John. Here they come!”
The battle devolved into chaos. Raiders swarmed the eastern wall, their weapons hacking at the hastily repaired fortifications. The villagers fought back fiercely, spears and axes clashing against shields.
John’s skeletons held their own, cutting down raiders with mechanical precision, but their numbers weren’t enough to stem the tide. One by one, they were destroyed, leaving John’s mana bar dangerously low.
A raider climbed the wall directly in front of him, a wild grin on his scarred face. John thrust his spear forward, the tip catching the man in the shoulder. The raider roared in pain, swinging his axe at John’s head.
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John ducked, adrenaline surging as he jabbed the spear again, this time driving it into the man’s stomach. The raider collapsed, blood pooling beneath him.
“Nice work,” Freya said, planting her axe in another raider’s chest. Her breathing was heavy, and her usual grin was replaced by a grim determination.
“You okay?” John asked, stepping closer to her.
Freya nodded, wiping blood from her face. “I’ve had worse. Just don’t get yourself killed, Bone Caller.”
“Working on it,” John replied, his mind racing.
As the raiders pressed harder, John realized the wall wouldn’t hold much longer. He glanced at the traps they’d set earlier, pits lined with stakes, hidden beneath snow. They were untouched, just beyond the walls.
An idea sparked.
“Freya!” he shouted. “We need to fall back to the traps!”
Freya’s eyes widened, but she quickly nodded. “Bjorn’s not going to like it.”
“Bjorn can yell at me later,” John said, raising his voice. “Fall back! Let them come through the wall!”
Bjorn’s booming voice echoed in agreement. “Fall back! Form a line behind the traps!”
The villagers moved quickly, retreating from the wall and regrouping just beyond the hidden pits. The raiders, thinking they’d broken the defense, surged forward with renewed aggression.
As they charged, John raised his hand again, summoning another skeleton. His mana bar dipped dangerously low, but he activated Gravebond, funneling every last bit of energy into his undead.
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[RAISE UNDEAD ACTIVATED]
Mana Cost: 20
Remaining Mana: 10
[GRAVEBOND ACTIVATED]
Mana Cost: 10
Remaining Mana: 0
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“Go!” John shouted. “Lure them in!”
The skeleton sprinted forward, weaving between raiders and forcing them to chase it. It darted toward the traps, its glowing eyes flickering as it led the enemy directly into the pits.
The first wave of raiders fell hard, their screams piercing the air as they were impaled on sharpened stakes. Those behind them stumbled, their momentum carrying them into the chaos.
“Now!” Bjorn roared.
The villagers surged forward, striking at the disoriented raiders. Freya led the charge, her axe cleaving through armor and bone with brutal efficiency.
John grabbed a discarded sword and followed, the blade feeling heavy in his hands. He struck at a raider’s exposed back, the impact jarring his arms but sending the man sprawling.
The tide turned quickly. With their leader impaled in the trap and their numbers dwindling, the remaining raiders broke and fled into the forest.
The battlefield fell silent, save for the ragged breathing of the villagers and the moans of the dying. John collapsed onto a pile of snow, his body trembling with exhaustion.
Freya dropped beside him, her axe resting on her lap. Blood streaked her face and armor, but her grin was back.
“You did good, Bone Caller,” she said, her voice soft.
John smirked. “Told you I’d survive.”
Freya chuckled, her gaze lingering on him for a moment. There was something softer in her eyes now, something more than the usual teasing.
“You’re braver than you look,” she said quietly.
John shrugged, staring at the darkened forest. “Maybe. Or maybe I’m just too stupid to know when to quit.”
Freya laughed, the sound cutting through the cold air.
As the villagers began tending to the wounded and collecting the bodies, Bjorn approached John, his expression surprisingly warm.
“You saved us,” Bjorn said simply.
John nodded, too tired to reply.
The system prompt flickered into his vision.
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[QUEST COMPLETED: “Prepare for the Onslaught”]
Rewards: +500 EXP, +10 Reputation (Village), Rare Skill Unlock.
[LEVEL UP!]
* Current Level: 2 → 3
* Skill Points Gained: +3
* Attribute Points Gained: +2
[NEW SKILL UNLOCKED: Bone Wall]
* Summon a temporary wall of bone to block enemy movement or shield allies. Costs 30 Mana. Duration: 2 minutes.
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John smiled faintly, closing the prompt. He wasn’t sure if he’d ever be ready for this world, but at least he was learning how to survive it.