'This can't be happening. I, I won't let our home be destroyed, even if it costs my life.'

Annie was brought to the verge of tears as she loosened bowstrings at an increased pace. She even forgot the pain as she did her utmost.

Suddenly, a figure flew in the sky. The scene would have been a bit comical, but nobody would even curve their mouths upwards in such a desperate situation.

- He, he...what's he doing?!

She was dumbfounded to have realized the identity of the flying figure. It was a hunter, who came to visit a day ago. Her heart skipped a beat when the rough outline of the Oculus flashed in the sky. The hunter was about to kill their nemesis, their horror, their terror. However, her heart instantly sank, when the outline of Oculus flickered and reappeared in a different place. She didn't know why her heart was feeling sorrow for a man she barely knew for a day.

Was it because she found him mysterious? Probably she was letting her thoughts go wild to have developed faith in him. But now, seeing his failed attempt at bringing an end to their suffering, realizing he would be dead for their sake, guilt and pain couldn't help but sprout in her heart. She silently wept as she continued fending off the beast tide with her bow and arrows. The death of the mysterious hunter was solely small part of pain she was experiencing right now, because of the bloody scene in front. The people she knew for a lifetime were nothing but motionless, cold corpses right now. And maybe, soon it would be her turn.

* * *

- Huff, huff, that reckless brat...

Old chief shook his head in regret. But that was the end of it. Lorian was a stranger, an outsider. He wouldn't get emotional for his death, especially because it was caused by his own recklessness. Because of that, it was hard for the old man to feel guilty. Besides, he had no time for that. As a chief, as the strongest warrior in the village, as a grandfather...A huge responsibility burdened him.

Using the skill consecutively greatly burdened his old body. Oculus was forced out of stealth mode, probably because it couldn't always maintain it at its current strength.

- Your sacrifice won't go in vain.

Old chief mumbled as he deduced several things. The fact, that the enemy used that illusion skill meant one thing - its power had already reached the one-star warrior realm. Usually, the chief would have felt appropriate fluctuation from the fellow 1-star warrior. Unfortunately, Oculus was one of a kind monster, a rare one. Despite decent knowledge of the chief, he had limited information about this type of monster.

Lorian's reckless move made Oculus reveal itself and as its skill was disrupted from the passive mode, it was bound to lose some energy. It was not possible to use strong skills consecutively as they expanded stamina.

Chief gritted his teeth and borrowed another bloodied wooden pole from spike fence.

- That's the last one, I've reached my limit.

Chief mumbled solemnly and used his last bits of strength.

The sharpened wooden pole whistled through the air.

- KRRRRREEEEEEEEEEE~~~~

The Oculus didn't manage to dodge this time, because chief's timing was accurate. The pole struck its iris and blood sprouted as it tumbled in the air. The beasts paused for a second. The Oculus lost control over the tide.

- Growl!

- Roar!

Upon regaining freedom, some beasts chose to flee, while some continued with their massacre. The attacking beasts' numbers halved, but those, who remained regained their intelligence. Meanwhile, the villagers have been forced out of the illusions. The situation of the battle changed once again.

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- Finish them off!

The chief roared with authority. The villagers rejoiced as they found the small respite. They continued with greater spirits, ignoring the fatigue and injuries.

- Kill!

The battle cries revitalized the villagers. However, the intensity of the battle didn't decrease in the slightest. The remaining 40 or so beasts was still a force to be reckoned with, especially when they regained their intelligence and wouldn't get themselves killed recklessly.

* * *

- Hehe, now-now, don't struggle, you're making this uncle angry and when this uncle gets angry, even I am afraid of myself.

The middle-aged man grinned at 8 or so women, who were tied like rice dumplings and hung over their horses.

- Mmmphh~

The women had their mouths shut by cloth and could only answer with incoherent whimpers. Their eyes were filled with despair.

These women were the most beautiful they could find in the village.

- Stop thinking with your dicks, you all will share in my glory after I breakthrough. What kind of women will you lack then?

The middle-aged man, who was holding the monocular yelled in displeasure. The displeased subordinates grumbled in dejection.

- You're right, boss. When do we act?

The bald soldier fawned. Obviously, he was the clever one.

The middle-aged man grinned.

- Judy, lead the horses out. Rest of you, follow me. This is the perfect opportunity to strike. Hehe, we get to kill with the borrowed knife, but landing a hand isn't a bad idea either. Remember, I need to deal the last blow to the Oculus, no matter what!

The middle-aged man kept the monocular as he led the soldiers towards the battlefield. The ground was littered with corpses of the villagers. Most of them were hiding though, scared of the massacre they orchestrated to snatch the pretty girls, when the capable men were out, fighting with the monsters. The soldiers didn't bother with the rest as the monsters would finish their job, but until then, they would make sure the villagers lost by striking at the appropriate time.

The silent weeping of the women could be heard from the houses, but they didn't dare to come out.

- No, please, why are you doing this? What did we ever do to you?

One bold middle-aged woman couldn't sit any longer and blocked their path.

- You're in the way.

The blood sprouted. No mercy was shown.

The man referred as the boss grinned savagely.

- Leave the chief alive. I need to fuck his granddaughter in front of his eyes. Hehe, you dare hit this daddy, Pui! I'll show you hell.

* * *

- Die! Die! Die! Die!

The old man repeatedly struck down with his hammer, turning the beast's head into a meat pulp.

The battle reached the critical point where beast or human fought with tooth and nail. The chief has killed about 10 beasts on his own and injured the big boss. His appearance was haggard as he was currently on the defensive as he gave the orders.

- Aaaaah~

The anguished scream came from the last rows of spike fence.

- Gaaah~

The chief's face turned furious as he noticed the soldiers, that started slaughtering the back lines.

- You!

Annie drew the arrow and hit the soldier's thigh.

- Agh, you fucking bitch!

She was slapped and sent flying, unconscious as she landed.

The injured soldier was about to teach her a lesson when their boss spoke up.

- Kill the capable ones. The monsters will do the rest. Don't waste time. Disperse!

The injured soldier snorted coldly and grit his teeth, took out an arrow with an ashen face and sprayed some holy water on the wound.

- Damn you!

The chief's eyes reddened as he fended off the monster while glaring at the soldiers hatefully.

It was at that time, something caught his attention. The chief's eyes widened as his body trembled at the scene.

*Hisssss, crackle~

A figure could be seen clawing his way at their direction. His left hand and leg could be seen moving as he crawled his way towards them. His right hand was dragging a sword, while his right leg was motionless and dragged as he crawled forward.

The figure was covered in frost and blood. Chilling coldness emanated from his body as it dispersed in the surroundings. Cold, blue eyes could be seen from the bloodied wolf mask he was wearing.

- Roar!

A beast stomped on his leg and rushed at the figure's direction.

Suddenly, the crawling figure miraculously pushed himself with the left leg and sprung in the air, appearing in front of monster's face.

His hand grabbed the monster's head.

*Crackle, crackle, crackle, Hisssss~

The head of the monster was frozen in ice.

*Bang

The monster's body toppled as the figure also fell on the ground. His hand pushed on the monster's head and shattered its head into ice shards.

*Hiss

The old chief inhaled cold breath as his body trembled. 'He...survived?!'

The fallen figure once again sprung in the air and swung with his right hand. The sword flashed as another beast's head flew in the air.

The figure once again fell on the ground and continued crawling forward, but this time, not even the monsters dared to rashly engage in battle against him.

Instead, surroundings seemed to have frozen as a monster and human alike halted what they were doing.

The sound of the sword being dragged across the ground clearly echoed in everyone's mind. This sound was somewhat dreadful.