It was bad.

Really, really bad.

The old swordmaster was nothing if not resilient. Decades of grueling training, mastery of the torturous Dance of the Wind, and a lifetime of leveling had forged him into one of the strongest warriors the village had ever known. Even now, bloodied and battered, aged and weakened, his formidable strength allowed him to regain consciousness after just a short rest.

But what came out of his mouth soon after made Kai almost wish he hadn’t woken up. For the Tower Keeper's word was pure bad news, grave enough to strike like a hammer to everyone's chest. If he had remained silent, things might have seemed less dire, but ignorance would have only delayed the inevitable. Nevertheless, they learned what made them flee as fast as possible.

The joyous celebration from moments ago had been shattered, swept away like dry leaves in a storm. The laughter, the bright warm light, the melodious songs, children's joy, generous tables of delicacy and the dancing around the grand bonfire—they were all gone. What should have been a night of revelry and farewell had turned into hasted and grim preparation. The festival was intended to last until dawn, but as fate decided, it was abruptly cut short.

Now, the villagers moved with urgency, their faces set in grim lines as they packed the last of their belongings. Their voices, once filled with mirth, were now low and tense, exchanging hurried instructions as they loaded wagons and carriages hurriedly. Innocent, clueless children were crying, failing to understand why their bright atmosphere suddenly disappeared... Just like the cubical bonfires they work so hard building to warm their festival, only to be extinguished without warning. It's tall flame gone, the dim embers glowing on the dead bonfire cast eerie shadows over the desolate clearing, its smoke curling upward like the ghost of what could have been.

Kaiser sighed, his thoughts swirling as he tried to make sense of it all. Aside from his honorable title, he had nothing to gain high standing in this settlement to get exclusive access to important information. But the little Intel he had received was enough to make his stomach twist.

As it turns out, what his mentor had faced wasn't anything Greenland had ever seen before. Not scum humans nor dwelling beasts in the wilderness, but something else entirely... Something that doesn't belong in this land, or was supposed to be here. What had reduced the indomitable swordsman to a bloodied, weakened state were creatures from beyond the Boundary—a realm entirely separate from their own. In some sense, they're alien monstrosities, with forms no one in Greenland could have imagined had specifically emerged from the Southern Boundary.

Only three of them.

Just three of those creatures were enough to push Garba, the strongest swordsman in the village to the brink of death, almost killing him. Kaiser clenched his fists, failing to imagine anything capable of wounding his mentor for he knew better than most how difficult injuring the swordmaster is. Garba never fought him earnestly to death, but the glimpses he received made him aware that his mentor's combat style relies heavily on evasion as its main defense, his technique in particular allowed him capable of twisting into impossible angle to either dodge or launch unexpected strikes. Making him harder to hit than most warriors, yet the invading monstrosities not only inflicted multiple wounds, but also threatened his mentor's life.

That alone spoke for the dimensional invaders capabilities.

Still, in the midst of it all. He appreciated Garba's bravery.

'Thank god gramp is stubborn.'

Kaiser had always been skeptical of the tower's purpose. Guarding an unmoving, inert Boundary had seemed pointless to him, more tradition than necessity. Now, he couldn’t have been more grateful for the Wardens and their vigilance. If Garba hadn’t been there to intercept the creatures in advance, they would have reached the festival unnoticed, followed by a horrible scene of unthinkable carnage, massacre of innocent lives with no warning, nor chance to prepare instead of the gloomy, empty clearing as the villagers fled they're having now.

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He watched as wagons and carriages, pulled by tamed beasts, were loaded with supplies and the young, old, and infirm. Hunters barked orders, organizing the evacuation with practiced efficiency. The once-lively clearing was now desolate. A grim hive of activity was happening in the distance. Tense murmurs filled the air, mingling with the rustle of hurried footsteps and the creak of wooden wheels.

'It would have been nice if only...'

If only that's the last of them, but no, misfortune isn't yet done with its deeds because according to the old man, more are coming. More than the quantity of what he faced, currently preoccupied on crossing the Boundary but would arrive here soon without a shadow of doubt.

Kaiser’s jaw tightened as he took it all in. The bonfire, the villagers' final homage to their home, had been doused strategically to avoid drawing attention. Its towering flames, which had once symbolized hope and celebration, were replaced by darkness and the glow of scattered lanterns. The mood of the villagers had dimmed alongside it.

He felt a pang of frustration. This wasn’t how it was supposed to end. They had worked so hard to honor their last night here, only for it to be ripped away by a cruel twist of fate. But reality rarely cared for plans, and fate was indifferent to fairness.

Sighing once more, he speeds up his pace, knowing the last preparations are nearing completion, Kaiser glanced back to the extinguished bonfire. Smoke still rose from the charred remains, twisting and curling into the night sky. It felt like the perfect metaphor for their situation—a brilliant light snuffed out, leaving behind only ashes and the will to move forward. Unease settled in his heart, brought by the grim thought.

But everything would be fine...

That's what the Hunters had been announcing repeatedly to the departing villagers as they arranged their line. Their booming, confident shouts reassured the people that despite the grimness of the situation, everything is alright. The Hunters had it under control. Somehow, he knew they have countermeasures of their own, one that didn't require his assistance.

'Everything is fine...'

Suddenly, someone called out to him in a deep voice.

"Kaiser, what are you doing? Get your friends to that carriage now, I ordered the coachman to leave as soon as you boarded. Get moving, make sure I don't see you here when I get back."

It was the big, brown Hunter, Alfred. Who urgently said that, pointing at a certain parked carriage. The Hunters leader was exceptionally grimmer tonight and extremely busy, because as soon as he gave those words for him to hear, the big man didn't even stop his wide, quick strides as he urgently went on his way without looking back, probably to deal with some important matter concerning everyone's safety.

'Right, I should leave soon, too.' Kaiser checked on the carriage exclusively assigned to him. This is one of the luxuries his title gives, his treated as a very important person in top priority, even going as far as giving him a personal ride of his own because his future as a Player was of utmost importance. While others walk through the long journey.

Kai would be lying if his said he isn't feeling the pang of guilt. However, he had suffered unfairness since childhood as an orphan, devoid of parental support while almost every kid has one? He envied others more than he could count as he struggled to not drown in life, alone with floating scraps while others sailed on a nice boat? So why should he be bothered so much that his now getting the good things in life?

His not kind, for the world never favored him. Even now, the only gift he received was a double edged sword that will constantly make him suffer in exchange to keep an accursed life he never liked.

Kaiser slumped his heavy bag on the carriage, thinking.

'All that's left is to get Ariella and Cia.'

He left them in the Inn with Miss Lina to wander around alone and get fresh news of the situation earlier.

As he made his way to the Inn, Kai can't help but notice the brave Hunters accompanied by numerous volunteered villagers preparing for strategic formation, instead of fleeing. Judging by the nervousness and determination in their eyes, he guesses that they had braced themselves to willingly stay behind. Likely to hold the invaders back as the innocent people journey to safety. It doesn't take a genius to figure out their suicidal intentions.

The lack of transports left said it all.

They had no path of retreat and would probably face a heroic death, sacrificing their lives for the sake of many. Their wives, daughter, sons, friends, parents and siblings... So they could successfully leave, survive and live.

To have one life yet voluntarily offer it for others... Kai didn't know whether to envy their courage or be grateful for what he had. Makes one wonder what these fools had eaten to selflessly brave death.

Maybe... Maybe he could join them, too? However, Kaiser's inner self suggests otherwise. His no hero, in fact, his a coward without his immortality. Furthermore, just like them, Kaiser had his priorities. Ariella and Cia were special cases, they can't live without his care. What would they do without him? Although, Kaiser is genuinely concerned about the blind girl. The goddess, however... Let's just say, akin to a ticking bomb, and could very well be a nuclear, or worse if not handled correctly. Therefore, no matter what, Kai would never leave their side even if it means dropping his sword and turning his back from the battlefield.

Besides, the Hunters said so themselves. Everything is fine, the situation is under control... They can handle it on their own, even without a Player like him, not like an immature Player that hasn't yet bloomed could be of much help. Alfred urging him to leave soon suggests so, too. So they don't need him, Kai doesn't have to join their suicidal battle.

Yet, why does he feel unconvinced? Uneasy, even.

His attention then shifted to the distant darkness, his sharp eyes piercing the dark distance. There, he spotted the road, where most of the people were already walking away, carrying lanterns as they journeyed under the night sky. Due to the lack of tamed transport, the majority had to travel by foot while the heavy cargo was taken care of by the train of carriages, saving them from the burden.

Honestly, his a bit worried about the villagers. More so because something crucial is missing in the train of carriages.

'Why is the armored Caravan not with them?'

The truth his been disregarding was quite obvious, really.

Gritting his teeth, he let out an infuriated sigh.

"Of course, this sh*t had to happen."

Everything is not fine at all.