At a modest cottage, the creak of a door broke the stillness of the night. The village chief stepped outside, his hunched figure silhouetted against the dim lantern light. His face was grimmer than usual, etched with lines of worry that spoke volumes about the dire situation, his eyes dim and distant.

However, it quickly turns sharp as it falls on a young man standing at the threshold. The boy looked unassuming—messy raven-black hair and an average frame that could easily blend into a crowd. But the chief knew better, he can not mistaken that unsettling indifference in the young man’s dark gaze to anyone else, the eerie calm that belied his age, that marked him as anything but ordinary aside from his title.

"Child, why are you still here? Hasn’t Alfred informed—"

"I want to meet him," Kaiser interrupted, his voice steady, leaving no room for argument.

The chief isn't one to argue, either. Instead, he

studied the young man for a moment, his keen eyes staring directly at his. Only to see Kaiser's resolve, a quiet but unyielding determination. The kind that even the village's highest authority couldn’t sway.

Eventually, the old man sighed, his hunched shoulders sagging slightly in resignation. "Very well. Follow me."

If there was one thing Kaiser appreciated about the chief, it was his pragmatism. Unlike Garba, the chief wasn’t prone to long-winded arguments or stubborn debates, fitting for his age and wisdom. If only his mentor is that understanding...

The two made their way inside the relatively spacious cottage, its interior dimly lit by lamps and modestly furnished. They stopped in front of a sturdy wooden door at the end of a narrow hallway.

“He’s resting inside,” the chief said quietly, his tone softening. “Would you prefer some privacy? Or should I accompany you?”

Kaiser offered a faint smile, a rare gesture of gratitude. "Thanks, but I'm fine on my own."

With a small nod, the chief shuffled away, leaving Kaiser alone with his thoughts.

For a moment, the young man hesitated knowing what he'll learn isn't pleasant, his hand hovering over the door handle. He took a deep breath to steady himself before finally pushing the door open.

The faint creak of the door gave way to the sight of Garba, seated on the edge of a plain wooden bed. The elderly swordmaster was holding his translucent blade, its polished surface reflecting his weary expression. He seemed lost in thought, his attention fixed on his own reflection in the weapon's gleaming edge.

The moment Kaiser entered, Garba’s demeanor shifted. A familiar grin spread across his weathered face, though it couldn’t quite mask the exhaustion lingering in his features.

“Oh, if it isn’t my treacherous student,” Garba said with a chuckle. “What brings you here? Don’t tell me you missed me.”

Despite his jovial tone, Kaiser’s sharp eyes scanned him carefully. The old man was wrapped in clean bandages, and while his movements were slow and measured, he appeared to be recovering well. Fortunately, none of his injuries had been fatal, knowing his mentor style, avoiding lethal injuries isn't surprising for the old man. What made Garba fainted was sheer exhaustion from the battle and his mad dash to the village to inform them of the danger as soon as possible. Which took its toll on his ancient limbs. However, even at his age, Garba’s physical condition remained leagues above most men thanks to his healthy lifestyle and decades of relentless training ensured that rest and treatment were enough to restore him to a reasonable state. Coupled with the fact that his physique was enhanced by accumulated Leveling, that even at the age over one-hundred, his still up and running, killing, even.

But, Kaiser didn’t waste time on pleasantries.

“Cut the crap, old man. Be honest with me... Can they hold them back?”

Kaiser’s tone was ice cold, his gaze fixed unflinchingly on Garba.

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The old man's expression didn’t waver though, his voice was calm and measured as he responded half jokingly. “Brat, what are you getting at? Have you no trust in the Hunters? In me, your master? Or in the brave souls willing to stay behind? Pay some respect, kid, we're heroes, you know, but not yet.”

Kaiser crossed his arms, not buying his acts at all, his grim words cutting through the room like a blade. "No. I’m not naïve enough to fully trust others."

The old man simply chuckled. “And you think we can’t hold them? Tsk, don't ruin a man's dream, brat. Go away, we'll be heroes for sure that saves running princesses like you.”

"... Can you? Who knows? That’s why I’m here, asking. So stop fooling around and answer me!" Kai was starting to loss control of his tone.

Hearing the undercurrent in his student voice, Garba had no choice but to be serious.

He snorted. “Well then, to answer your question—yes! The chief, the Hunters, the volunteers, and I... We’ll make it enough, no, we are enough. I promise you and to everyone, we’ll buy enough time for the others to reach safety, even if it costs us our lives... That’s my word! So take it and leave now, Kaiser.”

'Old liar.'

A slow, sarcastic clap echoed in the room, Kai's expression unimpressed. “Nice speech. But really? Come on, Gramps. Do you think I’m some gullible kid you can easily fool, you have to do far better than that if you're going to trick me into believing your lies."

He would have fooled other ordinary kids, but someone who lived in constant poverty from a young age? Dream on, Kai had been lied to, fooled and played more than he could count in the streets. It would take a professional actor to feed him lies to believe.

Having failed the whole time, Garba let out a heavy sigh, the weariness showing in his tired voice. His student isn't as naive as he appeared to be.

“Unruly as ever, I see... Kaiser, understand that we’re doing this for your own good. So for the love of the gods, just follow the damn order. A Player’s life is too valuable to waste on an insignificant battle. So, for the last time, just listen to me: turn your back and leave with the others...” The old man was almost begging him. But he remained firm.

“I will... if you give me an honest answer. Are the forces enough to hold them back? Just answer me already.”

Garba’s patience visibly thinned. “Haven’t I already assured you? Yes, we can!”

He scoffed.

“Oh, you keep saying that... if everything’s under control, then why the f*ck is Alfred out there groveling for outside help? I just took a look earlier, and judging by the way he’s negotiating, he seemed desperate for additional support. And don’t even get me started on the knights and mercenaries—they’re not going to bite, I'm sorry to inform you, but by the time I left, their Caravan is already moving away... So stop pretending everything’s fine and just tell me the f*cking true situation! Damnit, we're all on our own!”

The room fell silent, the weight of Kaiser’s accusations hanging heavily in the air. Garba slumped back against the headboard, his face lined with both exhaustion and reluctant defeat. For a moment, he seemed far older than his years.

His act gone, replaced by the grimness of reality.

“Fine,” the old man muttered bitterly. “Have it your way, brat... You win.” He paused, staring up at the ceiling as if searching for answers he didn’t have. When he spoke again, his voice was low and devoid of any humor. “The truth? None of us are likely to survive. Not me, not the Hunters, and not even the villagers fleeing right now.”

Kaiser’s eyes narrowed, his fists clenching at his sides.

Garba continued, his tone grim. “Those things from the other side are fast. Too fast. They don’t have eyes, but they can track prey by a potent sense of smell. And when they catch that scent? They’ll tear through anything without hesitation. From my experience, a single one of those creatures is capable of slaughtering a hundred innocent lives in minutes, and more if unbothered.”

Kaiser’s breath caught, but Garba wasn’t finished.

“If we had the knights and mercenaries on our side, maybe—just maybe—we’d stand a chance of holding them back. But without them? No. Not a damn chance, kid. Our forces won’t hold. We’re throwing pebbles at a mountain and praying it won’t crush us.” He sighed heavily, his voice trembling slightly. “It’s hopeless. It’s all hopeless, we'll all die... Satisfied now?”

They can't stop the invaders... And when all of them fall, the fleeing people are next.

Kaiser stood frozen, his expression darkening as the full weight of Garba’s words sank in. His mind swirled with thoughts of the villagers, the Hunters, and the volunteers—all of them walking straight into doom. Sadly, their hopes of saving others with their sacrifice were a mere illusion. The thought made him clinch his fist so hard to the point it bleeds.

'Why?... Why did it turn out like this?

He came here in search of the truth and got what he wanted... Was he satisfied? Well, he felt like puking all his guts out.

It's so much worse than his darkest expectations.

He cursed the world countless times in that momentary silence.

Eventually, in a voice barely above a whisper, he said, “...Yeah.”

Without another word, he turned on his heel and walked out of the room, leaving the old man behind.

As he stepped outside, the cold night air hit him like a slap, but it did little to clear the heavy fog of his mind. The village felt more desolate than ever, the once-vibrant streets now eerily quiet. Lanterns flickered weakly, casting long shadows across the faces of the Hunters preparing for what they surely knew was a losing battle. All for a false hope.

Kaiser’s gaze swept over the scene, his heart sinking further. Their determined faces, encouragement, bravery and their whispered prayers— all seemed like futile gestures in the face of an inevitable end.

When Garba revealed those bitter truth, he meant it. The courageous warriors, far away villagers that already traveled long distances, high-ranking individuals, the rich and the strong. Garba, the Chief, Alfred... Everyone. Oh, how he wished for it to be a joke.

The things he liked are few, and the village just had to be one of them.

Time passed in a blur as Kaiser made his way to the inn. His thoughts churned with a storm of emotions—frustration, anger, and a gnawing sense of helplessness. The grim words of his mentor echoed in his mind, haunting him with every step. His vision is already imagining what they would become... Corpses. Not a single one is spared. But perhaps he'll stay standing, after all, he can't die. However, even that was uncertain for their foes could potentially kill him through digestion or other ways.

Then again, what's the point of living without others?

The desolate village around him only deepened his unease, and by the time he arrived at the inn, he felt as though a heavy weight had settled in his chest. Because on the other side, were people he valued the most.

He stopped at the door and took a deep breath, forcing himself to focus. He couldn’t afford to waver, not now.

Not in front of them. Not with so much at stake.

Touching the door knob, Kai overheard the sounds of weeping.