Chapter 23 The Second Stand – Cassis

Cassis barely had time to process everything before a loud shout echoed through the room.

“Mr. Walker!”

He turned just in time to see a boy—around fifteen—running straight at him. Before he could react, the kid barrelled into him, wrapping him in a brief but tight hug before suddenly pulling back, looking embarrassed.

“Mr. Walker, it’s really you! The announcement was really about you.”

Cassis blinked. It took him a second to place the face, but then recognition hit.

“Ben?”

Ben Jacobs. A student from his sophomore history class. A decent kid—never caused trouble, got average grades, and mostly kept to himself.

“What are you doing here?” Cassis asked, frowning. It was Friday afternoon—why would he be at City Hall instead of home or out with friends?

“My mom needed to take care of some paperwork,” Ben explained quickly. “She wanted to take advantage of the extended hours today. I had to come along to look after my little sister, and then we were gonna go to the arcade.”

As if on cue, a woman and a young girl—probably around twelve—approached. Cassis had never met Ben’s mother before. Ben had always been one of those students who never needed calls home, never got into trouble.

“Mr. Walker, nice to meet you,” the woman said, offering a small but relieved smile.

Cassis nodded back. “I’m glad you and the kids are alright.”

Ben grinned, looking comforted by his teacher’s presence, and his sister peered up at Cassis with wide, curious eyes.

Arianna suddenly appeared at his side, giving him an amused glance.

“So you really are a teacher.” Her voice came through their party chat. “This is kinda weird, but also kinda heartwarming.”

She smiled, but Cassis didn’t reply. He didn’t know what to say.

Before the conversation could continue, the door to the room was thrown open with a bang.

Terrence stood in the doorway, panting. “The barricade won’t hold much longer!” Then he paused, eyes widening as he took in the healed people around the room.

Cassis stepped forward, taking control.

“Terrence, get the rest of your people up. Who here has already awakened?”

More than half the room raised their hands—including Ben.

Cassis clenched his jaw, his heart twisting at the sight. Ben was only fifteen. Just a little too old to be considered a child by the system. He had been thrown into this just like the rest of them.

The numbers were about what Cassis had expected, but still…

“Has anyone reached level five yet?” he asked.

Silence. No hands went up.

No classes yet. That was bad. They were about to face a wave of monsters, and half their group didn’t even have an awakener body yet.

This was going to be rough.

Cassis didn’t let his expression falter. “Alright. Everyone has to fight, except for the children. Grab some kind of weapon—anything you can use. We’re going to hold the monsters at the staircase on the second floor. That’ll give us space to fall back if we need to.”

He made eye contact with each of the new awakeners. “Those of you who haven’t awakened yet—try to land a finishing blow on a monster yourself. Awakeners, try to reach level five. Once you do, you can pick from the four basic classes: Warrior, Ranger, Mage, or Cleric. They’re pretty much like the ones in video games. Ben can explain it later.”

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He shot Ben a quick wink, he remembered that Ben had been into video games big time. The boy had been looking nervous, but now, with a task to focus on, his back straightened with determination.

Cassis turned back to the group. “My team will take the front line. The rest of you stand behind us and attack when you can. Dad, Arianna—you’re support. Do what you can.”

Everyone scrambled to obey. Some older people grouped around Ben, bombarding him with quiet, hurried questions about classes. Others took deep breaths, gripping their makeshift weapons. They stepped down the staircase towards the second floor.

Coming up, heavy footsteps echoed as Terrence’s group arrived, taking position.

Luke Bristol stepped up beside Cassis, rolling his shoulders, his expression grim but determined. He intended to fight. He intended to survive, to see his wife and daughter again.

And then—

A guttural roar tore through the building. The barricades had failed. The monsters were inside.

Cassis fought on pure instinct. Attack. Defend. Dodge. Move.

It had been fourteen years in the other timeline. Fourteen years of this. His body moved on its own, his sword finding weak points, his footwork sharp, his reactions honed. His mind barely had time to process each enemy as he cut them down.

It was the second time in less than twenty-four hours that he had to take a stand like this. But this time, the staircase was wider. The monsters had more space to attack. They surged forward like a tide, their roars and growls filling the air, their claws and weapons flashing in the dim light.

But they weren’t overwhelmed—not yet.

His mother and brother were stronger now. They held their ground better. His father was still launching Magic Missiles at the horde, but now he also used his staff to trip the monsters, helping others land the final blows they needed to awaken.

Luke Bristol was doing his best, switching in and out of the front line with Terrence, their movements rough but determined.

Arianna hadn’t used Heal yet—she was saving her mana—but she fought the way his father did, using her mace to crush skulls and shatter limbs.

The monsters kept coming. Then a scream. Someone had been injured.

Arianna pushed through the line, pressing her hands against the wound, light flaring under her palms. The man gasped in relief, and then she was back in position, her expression tight.

The fight continued. Then the orc appeared. It was E-rank. Too strong for the unclassed fighters.

It stormed up the stairs, pushing aside the smaller monsters like they were nothing.

Cassis cursed under his breath. “That’s going to be a problem.”

His father fired Magic Missiles at it in quick succession, slowing it down. Cassis used the opportunity to go for the kill, slashing deep into its chest with his flaming sword. It howled, staggering back, and then collapsed.

No time to rest.

The battle pressed on. They had to retreat a few stairs to keep their advantage.

Then another E-rank. A panther this time.

It moved too fast for Cassis to track, weaving between the fighters. His father was out of mana. The beast lunged for his mother.

She barely blocked its claws with her sword, but it was fast. Too fast. Then it went for Liam. The panther’s fangs sank into his side. Liam shouted in pain as the creature tried to drag him away. Luke Bristol lunged forward, grabbing onto Liam and pulling back with all his strength.

Cassis was there in an instant. He slashed his Fire Blade across the panther’s back, stabbed into vulnerable flesh and then activated Flame Burst on his sword. Fire roared through the wound, cooking the beast from the inside. It let out a strangled screech and collapsed.

Luke hauled Liam back behind the fighters.

Arianna was already kneeling beside him, hands glowing as she healed his wounds.

Liam gritted his teeth. “I was too slow again.”

“You’ll get better,” Cassis promised, gripping his shoulder. He met his brother’s eyes, holding his gaze for a long moment.

Then—

A scream from the front line. A massive figure stepped onto the stairs. A Minotaur. Another E-rank.

The fighters panicked, falling back. The line broke.

“Everyone, retreat to the second line!” Cassis ordered.

The fighers and new awakeners ran for the higher ground where a second group waited in front of the Employees Only door.

Cassis didn’t retreat. He sprinted toward the minotaur. Thanks to his Monsterbane I title, most of the F-rank monsters ignored him in favour of easier prey. He reached the minotaur unchallenged, just as it swung its massive scimitar.

He blocked. The force of the impact rattled his arms.

The minotaur was strong. They traded blows. His sword against its scimitar. Then—an opening. Arianna struck it from behind. The minotaur roared, kicking out with one massive hoof. But Arianna had already danced back out of range.

Cassis lunged in to take advantage of the distraction, driving his sword toward its chest—

Too shallow. It wasn’t enough.

Their fight continued.

Then he heard more screams and roars from above.

The monsters had reached the second line. They would have to hold out without him. He had to finish the minotaur.

Arianna attacked the minotaur again, but this time—it was ready. Its blade cut across her leg. She fell.

The minotaur turned, raising its weapon for the killing blow. Its back was to Cassis. A fatal mistake. He drove his flaming sword straight through its spine.

The minotaur let out a strangled roar and collapsed.

Cassis turned—just in time to see Arianna smash a kobold in the skull with her mace. She was injured now. The weaker monsters saw her as prey again. More of them rushed toward her. Cassis didn’t hesitate. He moved to her side, sword raised.

They fought back to back. The battle raged on around them. Above them—out of sight—the screams and roars continued.