Work in the village never stopped. Giants and demi-humans worked in shifts, organizing themselves to progress with the construction of the wall that would surround the entire area.

Their goal was to protect the village from any attacks. Some villagers commented that they had never faced such a serious threat before. This era had been peaceful, with only minor issues, and building defenses of this magnitude was unheard of for them. It made me wonder if, somehow, all of this was connected to my life before I lost my memory.

Eldrek was worried. He knew that, even if the village was well-protected, it wouldn't be enough. Nobody here was a warrior, and against a real attack, the defenses might not hold. It was something we needed to seriously consider given what was coming.

Together with Gronn, we gathered several demi-humans and giants to discuss the Nagas and the potential alliance we could form with them. The demi-humans were the first to hesitate. Their ethics and actions clashed with the methods of the Nagas.

The discussion, while calm, revealed clear divisions. However, both the giants and I were open to the idea. The urgency demanded it, but we agreed not to fully trust them and to keep a close eye on them.

Night fell, and everyone returned to their tasks. I stayed with Eldrek and Gronn to finally test the latest sword. Before we began, I couldn’t help but ask, “Eldrek, when you came to rescue me... my senses were dulled, but I noticed you did something to buy time against those creatures. What exactly was it?”

Eldrek, still recovering, answered calmly:

“We had a bit of leftover ore from the forging. Not enough to make another sword, but I decided to experiment with my magic.”

“What did you try?” I asked, intrigued.

“I made an alloy of earth, stone, and the leftover ore. Then I infused it with my mana.”

Eldrek pulled out a small pouch from his belt and took out a sphere the size of a baseball. He showed it to me with a faint smile.

“It was a test, and I’m glad it worked. I didn’t know exactly what would happen when I used it.”

I took the sphere. At first glance, it looked like a compact lump of dirt and rock. “What does it do?” I asked.

“When it hits the ground, it generates a tremor that destabilizes and confuses anyone within its range,” Eldrek explained.

“Wow, so it’s like an extension of your earth abilities. That’s brilliant, Eldrek. This will be a huge help.”

Gronn, who had been silently observing, chimed in, “Useful, yes, but there’s not enough of them. And we don’t have time to look for more ore.”

His comment sent a dark thought through my mind. What if all of this was pointless? I looked around and saw ordinary villagers, desperate to survive. Could we really win? I hated myself for doubting.

Eldrek pulled me from my thoughts. “It’s time to test the sword. We should move away from the village for safety. I’ve already informed the chief.”

“Alright, let’s go,” I replied.

We walked together, Gronn, Eldrek, and I, clinging to the hope that this time, things would be different.

We took a safe distance from the village to avoid any accidents. Eldrek assured us he had enough mana to stabilize the sword’s magic, so we got to work immediately. I unsheathed the sword and waited for his instructions.

“Are you ready, Darius?” Eldrek asked.

I tightened my grip on the hilt, glanced at Gronn and Eldrek, took a deep breath, and nodded. “Let’s do this.”

I focused on channeling my mana into the sword while Eldrek worked to stabilize it. The blade began to glow intensely. Blue and black swirled together, as if the sword itself had come to life. Gronn observed silently, his large eyes reflecting awe, as though he were admiring a masterpiece.

As before, the process lasted only a few seconds. When it was over, Eldrek fell to his knees, gasping for air. His chest heaved, and it seemed like he couldn’t get enough oxygen.

“Damn it, Eldrek! Breathe!” Gronn held him up to help him stabilize.

I stepped in front of him, drawing on a confidence I rarely felt. “Eldrek, this is the one. I trust you and everything you’ve done with this sword.”

Through labored breaths, Eldrek looked up and gave me a brief smile. He nodded, regaining some of his composure.

I turned to survey the area. There weren’t any rocks to practice on, but the trees ahead of us would suffice. I took my stance, focusing my magic once more into the sword. The blade vibrated with intensity as energy flowed through it. I picked a thick tree as my target and charged at it with determination.

The cut was clean. The tree fell with a loud crash, as though it were nothing more than an insignificant obstacle. We all remained silent. It wasn’t time to celebrate yet; there was still much to test.

This time, I concentrated my magic even more. The sword transformed—the blue shifted to a deep black with faint, shimmering flecks. The blade felt more alive than ever. Without hesitation, I targeted an even larger tree.

The strike was devastating. The tree crumbled instantly, but something strange happened. From its roots to its branches, it was consumed by chaos. The sight was breathtaking—a reminder of what I had seen in the creatures felled by my chaos, as their scales were devoured to reveal human skin beneath.

The wood disintegrated, leaving only remnants and a bubbling ground, scarred by the corruption of my magic.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

I didn’t stop. There was more to test. In the distance, I saw a cluster of trees and decided to change my approach. This time, I would unleash a blast.

Gripping the sword with both hands, I swung it forcefully, releasing the stored energy. A dark, vibrant wave shot out toward the trees. Two fell instantly, while a third, further away, began to crumble slowly, corroded by the chaos.

“Ha!” Gronn’s laughter broke the silence. I looked toward him. He stood with arms crossed, a proud expression on his face. He gestured for me to return.

I was out of breath, but nothing serious. I walked back to them, inspecting the sword as I went. When I reached Eldrek, he asked, “How did it feel, Darius?”

I sheathed the sword and smiled at him. “I think we’ve done it, my friends.”

Gronn burst into another laugh, full of excitement. “Of course, we did it! Those trees didn’t stand a chance! The sword held steady. You did it, Eldrek! This is going to change the history of weapon-making.”

Eldrek paused in thoughtful silence. His tired expression softened, giving way to one of satisfaction. He placed a hand on both Gronn’s and my shoulders and said modestly, “We did this together. Each of us played a crucial role. Now we must make the most of this achievement. If everything goes well, we can take this new method to the world.”

“Darius, if you can chop trees like that, how about making firewood for the whole village? You’d save us days of work!”

I rolled my eyes, but the joke brought a smile to my face. Eldrek, though exhausted, couldn’t help but chuckle softly. That brief moment of levity felt necessary after all the tension.

“Well, we should head back. We’ve tested enough for tonight,” I said, adjusting the sword at my belt.

We were ready to return, but before we could take the first step, a loud crash put us on high alert. It sounded as though something was slamming against the village’s structure.

“An attack!” Gronn exclaimed in a grave voice.

A knot formed in my stomach. “Gronn, take Eldrek inside the village! I’ll circle around to see what’s going on.”

Gronn frowned, hesitating. “I don’t like leaving you alone, Darius.”

“Eldrek is exhausted,” I insisted, gesturing toward the giant, who was barely standing. “We can’t risk anything happening to him.”

After a few seconds of uncertainty, Gronn reluctantly nodded. “Alright. But if anything happens to you, Darius, it’s your fault. See you inside!”

Without another word, I turned and ran toward the other side of the village. My heart pounded as I advanced. In the distance, the cries of women and children mixed with the heavy pounding against the newly built structure.

“Damn it! What the hell is happening?” I muttered as I quickened my pace.

The sound of the strikes against the wall grew louder with every step. At least it seemed to be holding, but that didn’t ease my worry. A chill ran through me as I thought about what might be attacking.

When I finally rounded the village, I stopped. My breathing was labored, but my attention was entirely focused on what was in front of me.

It wasn’t the scaly creatures from before.

What I saw left me frozen. A horde of massive figures with gray skin and glowing eyes pounded against the wall with unbridled fury. Their bodies were disproportionate, muscular, and their movements were clumsy, yet every blow they delivered seemed powerful enough to fell a tree.

They didn’t seem alive from their appearance. “What the hell are these things?” I whispered, unable to tear my gaze away.

I unsheathed my sword and tightened my grip on its hilt. I had to act before they breached the wall.

The structure of the wall stood about thirty feet tall, high enough to prevent the creatures from climbing it. From above, a few demi-humans tried to fend them off by hurling stones, but all they managed to do was irritate the beasts. The creatures struck the wall with relentless fury, each impact reverberating heavily.

I circled the wall, drawing closer to the creatures. I counted ten at the front, attacking without pause with swords, spears, and axes. Their movements were clumsy, but their unhinged growls made them seem more like beasts than soldiers. However, in the distance, I saw something that unsettled me even more.

Behind the ten attackers, about twenty more creatures stood in formation. They were motionless, observing, as if waiting for an order. Their presence made me question how on earth I would stop so many at once.

Taking advantage of the front group’s distraction, I slipped through the shadows and struck two of them from behind before they could react. Their pained growls alerted the others, who turned toward me, roaring as though possessed.

I stood firm before them, gripping my sword with both hands. I couldn’t hold back. I needed to give it my all. I channeled my mana into the blade, which began to glow intensely, the black and blue swirling together like a vortex of energy.

“Bring it on!” I shouted as I charged into battle.

The first creature raised its axe and brought it down in a heavy blow, which I narrowly dodged. My sword struck with precision, sinking into its torso and disintegrating its flesh. Another came from my left, but I spun on my heels, delivering a horizontal slash that forced it to stagger back, growling in pain.

Their movements were clumsy but packed with brute strength. One of them lunged with a spear, forcing me to retreat as two others tried to flank me. From the wall, the demi-humans shouted encouragement, their stone throws momentarily distracting the creatures. A giant joined the attack, hurling a massive rock that struck one of the creatures, knocking it to the ground.

“Thanks!” I yelled toward the wall before refocusing on my next target.

I channeled more mana into my sword. Its dark glow intensified as I turned to face three more charging at me. My strike cleaved one in half, the chaotic energy starting to disintegrate it from within. The other two lunged at me, and my arms began to feel the strain of their relentless blows.

Suddenly, one of the creatures raised its hands, and a whirlwind of wind struck me hard. I was thrown back, landing heavily on the ground. I coughed, struggling to catch my breath as another gust sent me rolling.

“Damn it!” I tried to stand, but pain coursed through my body. “These bastards can use magic too.” The creatures advanced, their growls loud, and each of their blows felt endless.

I forced myself to my feet. Now that I knew they could use magic, I couldn’t afford to let my guard down. I poured even more mana into my sword, this time intending to launch a ranged attack.

Gripping the hilt with both hands, I slashed through the air forcefully, releasing a wave of dark energy. It struck three of them, disintegrating them instantly. The rest hesitated but not for long.

I glanced at the formation waiting in the distance. The twenty creatures remained still, their presence like a calculated threat. Every second that passed increased the likelihood of them joining the fight, unsettling me.

The remaining creatures continued attacking with gusts of wind, striking me mercilessly. My body was beginning to give out. I could feel the warmth of my own blood running down my forehead and arms, but I couldn’t stop now.

The demi-humans kept trying to hurl stones, but they were now out of reach.

Only four of the frontline creatures remained. I was panting, barely able to stay on my feet. The beasts came at me, moving with unstoppable force.

“Don’t you ever get tired?” I muttered between gasps.

Suddenly, a sharp whistle echoed in the distance. The creatures froze mid-attack, as if an invisible force had immobilized them.

“What…?” I murmured, confused.

The beasts at the front turned and ran toward the source of the sound. The formation in the back began moving as well, but with an eerie coordination. My eyes followed their movement until I spotted figures in the distance. It was the hooded creature that had captured me at the camp before.

Beside it, under the moonlight, stood an old man with a long beard. He wore a purple robe adorned with strange symbols and held a staff in his left hand. He wasn’t as imposing as the creature, but his presence was overwhelming.

“It’s him—the one who dispersed my fog when I tried to escape,” I muttered through gritted teeth, my breath ragged. “Those bastards were just testing us.”

From the wall, Gronn shouted at me, “Darius, get back to the village! Quickly!”

I nodded, never taking my eyes off those figures, and started running back. The enemies, meanwhile, climbed onto wagons and retreated from the area.