Glancing at the orb himself, Mic saw the battle ongoing outside the City's outskirts were projected. Different kinds of mana swirled on top of the Guilds and guards, bombarding the Horde. Roaring and grunting, swords clashing, shields banging, arrows taut and shoot, and a... a cart?! 

Mic looked closer, and he remembered that cart! That is the slender man’s cart! Mic could see the miniature castle brightly lit up on top of the cart plowing down orcs. Some people got sucked inside this miniature castle and more kept on coming out. Mic noticed that the people getting sucked are injured and exhausted. While the ones coming out are full of vigor and health that pushed the Horde back in place. This cart is the main reason behind the Horde not making a step further down the plain. Not a single one of the Orcs had ever stepped beyond the five-meter mark in front of the City walls. 

The projection changed; it now depicts multiple orcs rushing towards the battlefield. Axe and maces high up, roaring and grunting as they go, until a black silhouette pass by. "Father," Mic heard Asmo whispered, hands clenched and tears on the edge of his eyes. 

As Deus pass, blood erupted on the orc's necks. Wielding two daggers, Deus sidestep to dodge an incoming axe, then jump and slit the orcs neck. Kicking the orcs torso, Deus covered the distance to slit the neck of the orc near him. 

As Mic kept on watching, the movements he saw in Asmo's father felt familiar. The style he moves felt graceful and fierce at the same time. A movement he saw in Asmo. In every way Asmo walked, he tends to do something that make him look awkward. And as he looked at Deus, some miniscule movements he saw in Asmo was clearly depicted. Mic presumed it is a special technique of footsteps to move faster, seeing how fast and blurry at times Deus in the orb. 

Another scene depicted movements coming from the forest. A horn sounded throughout the battlefield. Dark mist rolled out of the forest. Sounds of something clicking together could be heard, then a variety of skeletons step out of the forests vistage. 

"The Legion! What is going here?!" Leah shocked and shouted at the bracelet at hand, "We need reinforcements! The defenders at hand can't..." Leah looked at her son, "Tsk!", lowering her voice she walked out of the room and left. Alche followed after her. 

Asmo never heard any of Leah's outbreak, he still kept on gazing at the orb. Mic did not disturb him, and followed after Alche. As he got near the door, he heard Leah and Alche talking quietly. 

"Alche, follow my instructions. On point!" 

"... Yes mother." 

"Bring this letter to your Uncle. He is in the Tower of Knowledge. Leave now. There is a carriage at the back of the library. Use it. Everything you need are there. Bring your friends. You need anyone you can take." 

Alche stared at his mother, tears rolling, "... Y-yes, mother." 

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

"Be brave. Next year, you will turn 15. You already know what to do. And I hope you will know before then... " 

--- 

"Fuck! What is going on?! Why are these two armies attacking at once!" Kolp cursed as he decapitated an orc. Paul beside him still relaxed. Kolp stared at him, "What are you even doing?" 

"My job is done. After everyone coming out of the castle are injured, the cart would..." The cart with the miniature castle stopped beside Paul, "... Stop its functions. Everyone I had inside are injured, exhausted and unable to fight. So that's why my job is done." 

"Stop your bullshit Freelancer! Every hand is needed!" 

"Oh, come on Kolp! It's like we were never childhood friends!" Paul grabbed the cart and turned around going back to the castle. "My job is done. I repeat for the fourth time, my job is done. That's it." 

Kolp roared at Paul, infuriated and angry. He then swiveled around and jumped at the orcs coming his way. All the anger he felt, he poured through his attack. 

 Kolp knew that it is going to be a lost cause if the Legion entered the fray. With the undying being on its ranks, everything he had would be lost. The city would be lost. His life would be lost. But this is his duty. His duty for his people. His duty for the city he grew up to. The family he left in his humble abode. 

Noticing the guards up ahead, they are not a match for the Horde. Even if they are well trained, their Levels are not on par with the natural strength of the Horde. Even the startup Guilds can't maintain their own against the Horde. Kolp could see dozen guild flags on the ground, and a few more falling as the battle continued. Kolp knew that today is going to be his last. 

Paul pulled the cart on the side, the smile on his face mocking Kolp disappeared. A grim and sinister look took over him. He heard wind blowing on his left.  

“I do hope you would join us in this glorious affair, Mr. Grid.” A bone chilling wind penetrated Paul’s body and a screeching voice whispered unto his ears. Paul just stared forward ignoring the voice. A bone clamped gently on his shoulder, “Hoho! So sad! I can’t join in the fun then. Come on! Join in the fray! I can’t stop my tingling bones from creaking! The fun is slipping through my boney hands!” 

“Listen, Lich! You better not make a move yourself. Or else!” 

“Hoho! Yes, yes. I know what you mean. Next time we meet, you better be ready.” 

Paul clenched his hands tightly that it is bleeding. He can’t even help his best friend. Protect the city grew up. Everything messed up when the Legion came. The strongest commander of the Legions, Lich, won’t make a move if he won’t. And this is the best course for them. The undying in the Legions name would be cut off with the Lich staying his hands. This would create a better opportunity for the defenders.  

A mana leaked out of him going to the miniature castle. The space around him blurred, sucking him towards the castle. Jop and some of his medical team tended to all of them. They are the ones who ventured out on the open, combating the Hordes by themselves, leaving the defenders behind to attack first. Becoming the first ones to attack may be foolish, but Paul wanted to whittle down the Horde’s size. With his cart and the castle, he could prevent any casualties, in conjunction with Jop and his medical team, he could have an undying army on his own albeit on the slower side of things because of the slow recovery. 

“Anyone ready to fight, get ready to have second round!” Paul exclaimed. Everyone knew, the second round is the true battle. This time they could end up dead. Paul went out, he then poured all of his remaining mana to the miniature castle bringing it to brightly lit up. Sweat covered Paul as pain crept in his chest, signifying an exhaustion of Mana. Moments later, people came out of the castle, battle ready. 

As the people kept on coming out of the castle, multiple black balls flew over the city dropping inside the city.