The three of us ran down the corridor quickly. I still had thoughts of just turning back and letting the humans deal with their own problems but I had too many questions I wanted to know. Who was this Dracovich, why did he want those doors open? Was it really necessary to breed Hybrids for that reason, or is there more to it? Many other questions sprung to my mind, especially about the two that showed up to deal with the red spirit.

Looking at the bracelet on my wrist, it’s a beautifully designed bracelet. A band that went around my wrist had small stars grooved into the band itself, each one glowing with a faint silver glow at different levels of brightness, the band itself was pitch black in colour, so much so that it didn’t reflect light back. In a small groove at the top sat a round, white gem that reminded me of the moon.

I could feel a gentle type of energy coming from it, mixing in with the mana around and entering my body directly. I could tell that it wasn’t given me any strength or power, this must be the bonding that the girl told me about. Remembering her words about a Moon Goddess, I decided to leave it on for the time being, due to my Race supposedly being blessed by said Moon Goddess. Perhaps I could find answers if I kept it on.

Thinking over what happened in the cave again, it all just happened too quickly. I had imagined we’d storm in and it would be a long fight. Never did we think the human level 20s would just work to kill the Hybrids the moment we entered. Why did they wait until we arrived? And did they not need to wait till it was a full moon? I had asked Gray before leaving and he said it was what they said. My mind is in chaos with all of these questions coming up.

After an hour of mental conflicts, Olivia speaks up behind us.

“If the walls are still standing and no monsters are inside, should we help?”

Slowing my pace a bit since we were nearing the end, I considered what Olivia said. I didn’t want to see the city torn down by monsters, but if the humans were holding out…did we need to help? We could just move in and face the council before going to the noble’s section to seek answers.

“No. Let them handle their own problems. Only help if the monsters make it through.” Sally shares her opinion and I nod in agreement.

“Lets seek out the council first. I’ve still got so many questions to ask them.” Saying this I see the other two nod in response. Stepping out of the tunnel and making our way up the stairs, we arrived outside of the building.

As soon as we stepped out we were attacked by monsters. Taken by surprise for a moment, I attack on reflex and kill the ones attempting to harm us. Looking around, I’d noticed we had severely underestimated this attack.

There were hundreds of monsters charging towards the walls throughout the slums. Looking towards the walls away from Crater, it hadn’t changed but the monsters had simply just climbed through the holes or entered through the main gate.

“T-this is too many. Why are there so many monsters here?”

Hearing Olivia speak, I couldn’t provide an answer, even at night last time we were here there were absolutely not this many monsters outside of Crater. The monsters were all acting strange as well, charging at the wall to the human residence so simple mindly, biting or scratching at it. Monsters of various shapes and sizes, Wolf Alphas, Skeletons, Zombies, there were even monsters that flew in the sky.

Hearing screaming in the distance, it appeared the situation was a lot worse than we thought. Moving as a group as we fought through the monster tide, we looked at just climbing over the wall. It stood twenty metres tall, not something we could just simply jump over. We could however climb it fast, going through the main gates would not work, mainly because it would let the flood through if it hadn’t fallen yet.

Arriving at the wall, I was starting to feel really fatigued. Sure the monsters were easy to kill, but with so many monsters lunging or biting at us the small injuries had started to pile up, along with the injuries from the fight in the cave. Looking up the wall, I could see grooves or parts of it sticking out as I started climbing, with Olivia behind me and Sally bringing up the rear.

Reaching the top of the wall, I look over at the human residence. It was grim, the humans had obviously never planned for an attack passing the walls, and while the only monsters were the flying monsters, it was enough.

Looking at the city before me, there were houses everywhere, built with mainly wood and stone. People filled the streets, men, women and children alike, screaming and panicking in the streets. It was nearly identical to the scene from Zalus, except these people had no direction. The residents of Zalus had points to evacuate to, the residents of Crater in front of me didn’t have anywhere to go.

At first the idea of using Lunar Barrier came to mind but I dismissed it immediately. I can’t cover a city, and even if I could get all the humans to one location, I wouldn’t be able to hold it long. Funnily enough the cave we came from would be the safest place right now.

“What a terrible sight.” Hearing Sally speak, I just agreed with her. Looking at what was happening, I had no idea what we could do, even if we just jumped in we wouldn’t achieve much. With the way I looked I doubt the humans would even listen to me, so getting them into one place to protect them wouldn’t help.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Looking at the flying monsters, there were different types. Giant bats that were rotting away, birds with massive beaks and claws and even a strange boar-like creature that was riding on the back of one of the many skeleton birds.

“Is it my imagination or does it seem like the monsters aren’t interested in attacking people unless they’re in the way?”

Looking at Olivia, I tilt my head. “I can’t see as well as you two, what do you see?” Out of all of us, Olivia had the best eyesight.

“Well, most of the flying monsters are just passing citizens, some of them are attacking the citizens but the majority are flying deeper to another building, and are either circling the building or landing to try and get in, but it’s being defended by a group of humans.”

Trying to look where Olivia is pointing, I could roughly make out the building but not much else. Crossing my arms and holding my chin to think, I wonder what could be causing the monsters to act like this. Looking behind me at the slums where monsters were still rushing in, attacking the wall we were standing on. It should hold…hopefully. The monsters rushing in all seemed to be focused on getting in, it was like they were after something.

Looking back at the building, I felt like the answer would be there. “Olivia, Sally, can you two try and help the citizens? I’ll go to that building and see if there is anything there.”

Both nod, and just as I go to move, I realise we didn’t have a quick way down. Seeing the other two, it seems they didn’t realise that till just now. Wrapping my arms around the two of them, they caught onto what I was going to do as I jumped and used my wind magic to carefully land ourselves on the ground.

Separating from each other, we moved in different directions. Seeing it from above made this city look small, but being down here made me realise it was huge. Moving directly towards the building, I moved as straight as possible, jumping onto the roofs of buildings where possible and continuing on.

Passing the halfway point, I ran into a group of humans being attacked by monsters. Seeing there were a few dozen humans here with children, I jumped down near them. Moving towards the group, I kill as many monsters as I can, and arriving at the group I keep the pace going. There were children about to be attacked, saving them as quickly as I could, I turned to the group.

“Run, hurry!” Seeing them stare at me in fear I grow frustrated and kill another monster that came down. Finally they start moving away, I knew I couldn’t protect them all, but at least getting them moving might give them a chance…maybe.

Still moving while helping groups where I could, the destruction around here was bigger than I had thought. Houses had chunks missing from them, corpses littered the ground and people were still just running in circles panicked. Knowing it was likely Crater would be no more after this, I keep moving towards the building, and after another ten minutes I arrive in front of it.

The building was surrounded by monsters and monster corpses. This was the council’s building that Elizabeth had described to me before we set out from the plateau. A double story building with guards on top, shooting bows and attacking any they could reach with swords. At the entrance to the building was a similar scene to the roof.

Strolling up to the entrance, I walk past the guards without bothering to cover my monster traits. They look at me in fear, but continue to fight as if me coming through was unexpected, but nothing to panic about. Strange.

Moving into the building, there was a giant lobby to welcome me. No one was in here, but judging by the smell there were people deeper in. Following the smell, I go deeper in, finding stairs leading down. Heading down, it takes a few minutes of walking to arrive in a room where there were a pair of guards waiting. Upon seeing me, they trembled for a moment before taking their stance to fight.

Shaking my head, I step past them easily and knock them out. The monsters and guards all hadn’t been higher than level 17 and did not pose a threat to the current me, even if I was this exhausted.

Moving down the hallway, I picked up the smell of the councilwoman we had come across before, and deciding this to be the best person to seek in this situation, I headed towards them. Passing a few more doors, I reached a room and inside was just the councilwoman. Upon seeing me, she lets a sigh out.

“I suppose this is your doing, setting these monsters onto Crater. Well, I must congratulate you for realising your dream.”

Ignoring her snide remark, I cross my arms and shrug. “No, not really. Your nobles released something weird, and then this started happening. The monsters are aiming for this building for some reason, I’m simply here to find out why.”

Unable to see her facial expressions I wait till she starts speaking. “Those nobles, they haven’t come to help even now. Yet here you are, a monster that we raised and treated as a slave, offering to help.”

“I’m only helping on a whim. I don’t particularly care if Crater falls today or not, but I’d rather try to help.”

Seeing her shake her head, she looks over at me before saying “If the monsters are attacking here, they’re likely here for the Orb that protects us from danger.”

“A Blessed Orb of Salus?” Upon asking this question, I see her do a double take before sighing and nodding.

“I see, so you know the truth. I doubt it was Elizabeth, after all the Orb is only known to the council. Very well, the city is basically lost, why don’t we go have a look at it.”

Simply nodding to her, she leads me out of the room as I keep my guard up. We head down multiple stairs and after more than ten minutes of this, we arrive before a set of doors. No magical enchantments or seals, they were just a pair of doors that the councilwoman opened. Even the doors to the mana springs in Zalus had an enchantment on them.

Pushing open the door, in the centre of the room is an orb, but it’s not golden in colour like the orb we had on the plateau. This one was pulsating red.

[Corrupted Orb of the Scorched Earth.

Corrupted by the touch of a God, lures monsters from all around to it. A monster that devours this orb may receive benefits.]

Seeing the description and remembering that so-called God, I knew this was a trap. Watching as it continued to pulsate, I wondered if there was anything we could do about it, the description did show it was the reason for luring monsters here. Standing there in silence, I wondered what to do.