After striking down the invader, Kaiser was gripped by a strange, and unfamiliar sensation coursing through his body. It wasn’t unpleasant—in fact, it was the opposite. It felt as though an indescribable energy surged within him, wrapping itself around the very fabric of his being. It was both alien and strangely familiar, like recalling a forgotten memory, that wasn't even there, or was it? Nevertheless, he felt lighter, stronger, and somehow more alive. His exhaustion ebbed away, replaced with an invigorating robustness that made his muscles taut with newfound vitality.

It was as if something whispered to him from deep within, promising power, urging him to test his limits. He couldn’t explain it, but he suddenly felt capable of crushing stone with his bare hands.

Kaiser stared at the lifeless, massive body of the invader at his feet. A monstrous creature that only moments ago was a living nightmare, capable of wreaking devastation on an unthinkable scale. These white-furred abominations were unstoppable forces, the kind of threat that required entire armies to hold at bay. Even now, volunteers and hunters alike were being cut down in droves across the battlefield.

But he had killed one.

A realization struck him. Was this the pronounced feeling of Leveling? More specifically, Leveling-up? A rare, undeniable surge of strength gained from defeating a foe leagues above him in power? Thus giving a noticeable amount of improvement in a single instant. If so, it was unlike anything he had ever felt before—an unexpected boon amidst the chaos of battle.

Kaiser’s sharp eyes flicked to the other distant beasts still rampaging across the battlefield. Five remained.

He clenched his jaw, steeling his resolve. 'Five more…' he thought grimly. But this time, the dread in his heart was accompanied by a weird sense of anticipation.

The taste of triumph was intoxicating, sweeter than anything he could remember. Despite the gruesome reality of death and bloodshed, victory carried an odd satisfaction. This was no selfish achievement—it was a victory for everyone who fought and died here today. For the survivors, for the fallen, and for those they sought to protect.

Kaiser’s gaze returned to the corpse of the slain invader. The monstrous body lay sprawled on the charred earth, its once-pristine white fur now matted with dark, coagulated blood. Its massive form, riddled with wounds, arrows, and gruesome gashes, was a grotesque sight—but a sight that meant hope for those still fighting.

Around him, the defenders were frozen in disbelief.

It was dead.

The seemingly invincible creature that had wreaked such havoc had fallen. For a moment, silence blanketed the battlefield, save for the crackling of flames in the distance. Then, cries of triumph erupted, shattering the quietness. Exhausted warriors dropped to their knees, gasping in relief, tears streaming down the faces of some as they shouted with every ounce of strength they had left.

They turned to the one who had delivered the killing blow.

It was *him*.

Kaiser.

The Player. He hadn't abandoned them under the excuse of being too immature and significant to die, differ to their first assumptions.

Though many had noticed him earlier, the chaos of battle had left no room for admiration or acknowledgment. But now, with the beast lying lifeless, their eyes were drawn to the young man who had accomplished what seemed impossible. Grateful hearts burned with hope as they looked to him, their voices rising in cheers that rang out above the din of the battlefield.

Yet Kaiser did not share their enthusiasm.

Amidst the jubilant cries, the labored breaths of the injured, the anguished wails for fallen comrades, and the barked orders of hunters trying to restore order, Kaiser felt only the weight of grim reality.

It was a victory, yes—but a hollow one.

The cost had been far too high. He briefly surveyed the battlefield, his heart sinking as he counted the bodies of his comrades scattered across the blood-soaked ground. Over twenty warriors had been lost to bring down a single invader. Their sacrifices, though not in vain, painted a dire picture of what was to come.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

“This isn’t working…” he muttered under his breath, his eyes narrowing as he considered the odds.

At this rate, there would be no one left to fight by the time the last beast fell. Which is an acceptable but grim conclusion that will leave a bad taste in his mouth, because it represents both defeat and victory. Nothing to be proud about.

Though, those outcomes are already considered miraculous. Because from the start of at all, the defenders were never expected to win, let alone, defeat every invader instead of just immobilizing them, at best.

Can he do it? He wasn't sure himself, but there's only one way to find out.

Kaiser bent down and picked up a stray sword from the ground, its blade mundane and unremarkable. It didn’t matter. Anything would do. Without hesitation, he dashed forward again, his movements rapid and precise, his resolve hardening with every step. Knowing

every second he wasted was a second that claimed another life.

As he ran, he replayed the battle in his mind. The invaders were powerful, their anatomy alien and formidable. Their skulls were as tough as ironwood, their bones unyielding as steel. Fortunately, Kaiser now knew they were not entirely invincible. His earlier strike had revealed a crucial vulnerability: the base of their ears.

Unlike the rest of their bodies, the area where the ears connected to the skull was weak. The lack of protective muscle and thin bone made it a rare soft spot, accessible to anyone with the skill—and strength—to exploit it.

Kaiser tightened his grip on the hilt of the sword.

If no one else could deliver the killing blows, then he would. If no one could reach it, then he would. There's no way he will simply cripple the beasts, because even in that state, the death of the warriors would continue to rise.

Only death for his foe's was the option.

If everyone's too weak to do so...

He would be their blade.

That said, he can't simply be a weapon. He couldn’t afford to swing wildly, like a mindless blade driven by desperation or rage. Every strike needed to matter, if not, someone will die. Every move had to save lives, not waste them. Kaiser needed to be efficient and precise in this slaughter.

His sharp eyes scanned the battlefield, taking in every detail through the swirling ash and smoke. Then, he noticed something that surprised him—some of the invaders were starting to falter.

It wasn’t obvious at first. These beasts were unnatural, monstrous in their endurance and strength. But even they had limits. After going through a relentless assault of traps, barrage of arrows, and now, the furious onslaught of over a hundred warriors, had begun to take its toll.

Out of the five remaining beasts, two were still as terrifyingly vicious and agile as ever, similar to the one he just slayed, their movements unyielding and terrifying. The other three, however, showed signs of strain. Their white fur was now matted with dark blood, their movements less fluid and more erratic. Yet with their decline came an unsettling new danger.

As they weakened, they became wilder.

Desperation overtook them, their savage instincts driving them into blind rampages. Without sight and with their sense of smell dulled by the smoldering heat, they lashed out in every direction in fear of death, as every living creature possesses, except Kaiser. Their powerful legs sent warriors flying, their massive jaws snapped shut on anyone who got too close. The more they bled, the more erratic they became, thrashing like cornered beasts with nothing to lose.

Between the distinct condition of the five invaders, what do he choose? The ones that still stood well, maintaining a semblance of calm attentiveness, or feral strugglers?

Kaiser’s grip on his sword tightened as he made his decision.

'Obviously, the dying ones.'

Not because it was easier—far from it. These wounded invaders were the most dangerous in their frantic state. But Kaiser knew their unpredictability made them deadlier to others. Their wild rampages were cutting down too many warriors, their desperation taking more lives than their stronger counterparts. They needed to die first. Additionally, it would be nice to kill them first before anyone could get those "experience points".

Kaiser shifted his trajectory, his feet kicking up dirt as he veered toward the weakest of the thrashing invaders. The beast’s towering form loomed ahead, its head snapping back and forth as it swung its massive frame in chaotic arcs. Warriors were thrown aside like ragdolls, their screams piercing the air.

With a deep breath, Kaiser charged into the fray.

The battlefield was pure chaos. Hunters surrounded the thrashing beast, trying desperately to bring it down. They stabbed and hacked at its legs, its sides, anywhere they could reach, but their attacks barely pierced its thick hide. Some careful arrows rained from above, some embedding in its flesh, others bouncing off harmlessly.

Kaiser dodged past a hunter who had been flung aside, his body hitting the ground with a sickening crunch. Another Hunter screamed as the beast’s massive maw snapped shut around his torso, silencing him in an instant.

'Stay focused. Keep moving.'

Kaiser leapt over a fallen comrade, using the momentum to drive his blade into the beast’s hind leg. The sword bit deeper than before, drawing a fresh gush of dark blood, but also breaking quicker. The invader roared in pain, its massive body twisting violently. Kaiser ducked beneath a sweeping limb, rolling to avoid being crushed as it thrashed.

“Hold the line!” a hunter shouted, his voice hoarse.

Several warriors surged forward, their weapons gleaming in the firelight. Kaiser watched in grim admiration as they fearlessly charged, distracting the beast and giving him an opening and time to pick a new sword. But their bravery came at a cost.

One man was caught by a sudden kick, his body flung like a ragdoll into a nearby tree. Another warrior managed to land a strike on the beast’s flank, only to be crushed beneath its paw a moment later.

Taking advantage of the chaos, Kaiser darted forward, again. He moved with purpose, weaving through the fray with a predator’s precision. His goal was clear—the base of the beast’s ear.

However, the invader’s movements became more erratic as its injuries mounted, but that only made it harder to predict... Until a severely injured Hunter willingly runs towards it, roaring a courageous cry, his bloodied body attracting it attention, and hungry maw.

That brave fool died.

'But not in vain.' he swears.

Kaiser timed his steps carefully, his heart pounding as he dodged a flailing limb that narrowly missed him.

Finally, he was within striking range.

With a sharp grunt, he steps upward, using the momentum to drive his blade straight into the soft patch beneath the beast’s ear as it bites the suicidal hunter. The sword sank deep, and for a moment, everything seemed to freeze.

To his nightmare, it seems he missed the brain by a centimeter.

The invader let out a deafening roar, its body convulsing as it thrashed in its death throes. Kaiser clung to the hilt of his sword, his muscles straining as he twisted the blade for good measure.

With a final, shuddering groan, the beast collapsed. Its massive form hit the ground with a thunderous crash, sending a cloud of ash and dirt into the air.

Kaiser rolled free of the falling body, landing hard on his side. He gasped for air, his chest heaving as the adrenaline coursed through him.

“Four to go…” he grunted under his breath in a raspy tone, forcing himself to his feet.

But as he stood, something caught his attention.

The air around him was growing hotter, the oppressive heat pressing down on him like a physical weight. He wiped the sweat from his brow, his sharp eyes narrowing as he scanned the hellish battlefield.

Something was wrong.

He cursed, letting out an infuriated groan.

'As if this f*cking monsters wasn't enough!'