Silence.

A pin could drop right now, and the sound would be heard loud and clear. The oppressive silence inside the camp stopped others from breathing.

Dozens of terrifying monsters appearing was like an invitation of the death god!

When several hundred monsters looked back at them, Major William and Lt. Colonel Mayla’s faces turned white.

“W, what is this…?” Major William muttered in a daze.

This was already beyond anything they could contend with.

“W, where is Mister Allen?” Lt. Colonel Mayla gulped in anxiety.

“He’s coming… certainly.” The one who answered her was Aileen who was holding her beloved carbine. Her face was pale as if she was anemic.

Beside her were Flor and Ms. Grace. They were not good either.

“W, we need to last before Mister Allen arrived!” Major William made his decision.

When the people, especially civilians saw the massive number of monsters showing up, they started crawling away like worms on the ground. Some quickly ran away towards their base.

The soldiers didn't even think about firing back with their guns and could only stand there, petrified.

“What are we going to do?” Chaos started to erupt amongst the people.

“Stay on your positions!”

Lt. Colonel Mayla’s beautiful eyebrows locked together even more profoundly but she didn’t give into terror and immediately waved her arm to give her command.

“Everyone get ready! We are not alone! Remember Mister Allen is here with us, we would certainly survive this!”

“Ouh!!”

“Get your as*es ready, and aim! We are soldiers!” Major William pitched in.

“““““We are soldiers!!””””” the soldiers finally regained their composure as they grabbed their guns. Their eyes burning in determination!

The monsters finally arrived at the gate and rushed towards the crowd.

Looking at the incoming monsters, Lt. Colonel Mayla immediately shouted, “The monsters are coming. Get ready to fire!”

The soldiers immediately grabbed their guns and weapons. The vehicles were equipped with various weapons, including machine guns.

Borororororonnnnggg!!

Black smog was emitted as the ignitions were started. As the vehicles took a sharp turn, they pointed their vehicles towards the monsters. Some of the air while the others turned towards the incoming giant spiders and ants.

“Shoot them!”

Tadadadadadadada!!

“Kraaaayaaaah!!.”

Several hundred bullets flew through the air, striking the monsters. When the bullet hits several mantis and harpies, they immediately fell in the ground. However, this only occurred to a small fraction of the monster army.

Moreover, the shiny looking beetles didn't seem to receive any damage at all.

“Bring the rocket launcher.”

A henchman quickly brought an RPG-7, aiming it at a silver beetle with blue stripes that looked like a stag beetle before firing.

Pee-shoooooong!

The warhead cut through the air towards it and exploded.

“Kyaaaaah!!!” A group of soldiers was besieged by a group of dog-sized locusts.

“Aaaaaahhhh!!”

“S... shoot them!”

Tadadadadadadada!!

The machine guns fired like mad.

Tadadadadadadada!!

The useless barrage of bullets rained down on the monsters, and the slightly more dangerous missiles were also pouring down on them but it hardly did anything.

They’re just too many and there were even monsters just like the giant beetles, ants and lady bugs that possess hard carapaces that could almost block bullets and explosions.

The soldier who had been shooting his rifle started to shake.

“T... this must be a nightmare.”

“This makes no sense.”

Major William, felt his body stop shaking. The reality was too wretched for him to feel fear from what was happening in front of his eyes.

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At this moment,

“Enough!!”

Flash, and a roar.

Many lightning pillars appeared, connecting the heavens and the earth.

Boom! Bam! Boom!

A big group of insects was toast and even the monsters on the ground weren’t spared.

Looking at this supernatural phenomenon, all the people present gained ground and immediately turned their head towards the black clothing youth who magically appeared in front of them. Their eyes were sparkling as if they’re looking for their messiah.

“Allen!” Ms. Grace called out happily. She never doubted him!

Flor swung her black sword and cut a mosquito like monster. Her countenance didn’t change but when she looked at the black clothed youth, anyone could see the gleams in her eyes softening as if feeling relieved.

Aileen and Alicia also felt a smile crawl up on their faces as they fired the guns on their hands.

As long as he’s here, everything will be alright! Although it was extremely unreasonable they all hold that same belief.

“It's that boy!”

“It's the protector! The black guardian!!”

When a person, who recognized Allen yelled it out, the news spread like wildfire between the people.

Allen frowned as he heard the racket.

“Be Quiet!”

Allen’s words spread, whereupon silence reigned over the square. The abrupt silence caused others, who were out of Allen’s speaking range, to also stop speaking.

Soon the silence had spread across to every people there.

A flying harpy in the sky was flapping its wings spiraled downwards.

Its sharp bird-like claws extended, preparing to grab Allen who was standing in front of the people.

But before it could get near, a tiny small little thing appeared on its side. A yellow fur rodent stabbed its claws on its back and then,

Bzzzzt!!

“Gyaaaaaahhhh!!”

The harpy was electrocuted to death as it fell to the ground. The yellow rodent somersaulted in the air and then gracefully landed on Allen’s shoulder. Sparks crackled around it.

“Aaarrrrooooooooaaahhh!!!”

Another monster in front of Allen, roared to the sky, intimidating the monsters causing them to halt their movements. It was standing proudly with its back facing the monsters, growling in threat as if expressing that it’s the one who would protect its master.

“Goo-ohhhhhhh!”

Lastly, a huge gorilla-like monster appeared behind Allen as it drummed its chest and let out a roar causing the monsters flinched back in surprise.

This newly arrived group caused the battle to immediately stop. Flying monsters were suspended in the air while the ones on ground stilled.

“Allen.” Ms. Grace rushed to Allen’s side. Behind her were several people including Major William, Lt. Colonel Mayla, Flor, Aileen, Alicia and lastly, Lieri.

They stopped behind him and as soon as they saw his face, they were surprised.

Allen’s expression was tight.

His face was filled with an unusual seriousness that they had never seen before.

“Allen?” Lieri walked beside him, her eyebrows furrowing.

“Stand back Lieri,” Allen muttered.

His head then turned towards the sky.

“I know you’re there, Thumbeline!”

The group was surprised at Allen’s yell.

Thumbeline?! Who is Thumbeline?

Following Allen's gaze, their eyes then turned towards the sky.

“Quit hiding, Thumbeline! I would never forget this feeling, I know you’re there!”

“… …” silence.

“Did Alkrasha send you? Or maybe she is already here?”

“Her majesty isn’t here.” A voice reverberated through the sky.

Hearing this voice, all the people subconsciously tightened their grips on their weapons.

Buzzing sounds echoed in the whole place.

A humanoid figure appeared.

With wings like that of a dragon fly, two pairs of compounded eyes and a pair of antennae.

She has limbs that were extended and end in twin hooks, and her lower legs are digitigrade. Her biceps and shins and covered in long bristles, and striped akin to that found from a wasp called Yellow Jacket.

“How did you know my name, human? Ah, right, her majesty said you also know her. As for how she didn’t say…”

“Answer me, Thumbeline! Why are you attacking this small city? Did Alkrasha send you here?”

“Don’t speak the name of my queen casually, foolish human!”

“Shut up Thumbeline! Answer my godda*n question!” Allen lost his temper and unconsciously raised his voice.

The group behind him was surprised because of Allen’s outburst but it was natural.

Looking at the corpses lying on the ground, Allen felt something burst inside of him.

“Oh my, you’re quite uncivilized for a human… well anyway to answer your question. Her Majesty indeed sends me here.”

“To attack us? For what reason?” Allen asked. However, he didn't believe Alkrasha to do such a thing.

Alkrasha was indeed brutal and ruthless but she never attacks her own initiative for no reason - Though that was only before she became a Demon General.

So why is she attacking us now?

“Nope, her majesty didn’t order me to do something like that. I only did this on my own discretion.”

“Then why are you here? You shouldn’t have any reasons to attack this small camp!”

“I have…” Thumbeline answered casually.

“Her Majesty ordered me to bring you to her and for all those pests buzzing around you… all shall be cleaned.”

Allen’s eyes opened wide after hearing what she said.

“Alkrasha… wanted me? For what?”

“… you don’t need to know.”

Allen frowned.

Clenching his fists, Allen said with a cold voice: “… Bring me? Hah! Do you really think that you could defeat me?!”

Sparks flew from Allen’s body.

Black clouds appeared one after another above the camp.

Crackle! Sparks that looked like golden snakes playfully danced within those black clouds.

 “I don’t know what level you are right now but I know that I can still defeat you easily, Thumbeline!”

Boom!

As if a thunderstorm was taking place, lighting one after another struck the ground like rain.

“Allen (Young Master!) …” Lieri and the rest called out to him.

“You should think about it more, human.”

However, Thumbeline wasn’t the least fazed by Allen’s power. Instead, a fearless smile appeared on her face.

“I know about your power, and even though I don’t want to admit it but I know that I wouldn’t be able to defeat you… but what about the humans inside this camp?”

“… …”

“Can you really protect them… can you protect all of them?”

“Thumbeline, you bastard!” Allen scowled.

“Human, her majesty told me to bring you without hurting you and so that is what I’m going to do. Follow me obediently and I assure you I won’t do anything.”

“Do you think we will just let him go?!” feeling something wrong about the situation, Aileen cried out.

The others didn’t say anything but their actions express how they feel. They pointed their weapons towards Thumbeline without any fear.

Aileen with her carbine, Alicia with a rifle, Flor with her black sword and Lieri’s two hands started producing flames. They encircled Allen as their faces expressed their intense determination.

“Allen, we will fight, right?”

Allen didn’t speak and seemed to be in thought.

Ms. Grace frowned. She then turned around and looked at the two behind her.

“Mister William, Miss Mayla… right?” she asked, no she plead.

Mayla nodded her head but Major William hesitated for a moment before saying; “Y, Yeah…”

Ms. Grace felt relieved but as soon as she turned around and looked at the other people, she was greeted by strange expressions.

Nobody said anything but their expressions were wavering.

There were even some who averted their eyes away, and some shook their heads in despair, while some people pleaded with their eyes …

In the face of death, survival would always be the priority. That is a human’s natural reaction.

They were not willing to fight against strong enemies or even face a despairing scene with clearly no way out.

If there’s a chance of survival, it’s only natural to choose that one.

Besides,

… No one wanted to die for a stranger’s sake…